Romeo, Car 54, and God
Some events in history impact us so greatly, that we will always remember them and where we were when we heard the news. Pearl Harbor. JFK’s assassination. The Space Shuttle explosion. You probably remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard the news. And now the WTC suicide attacks.
Many were getting ready for work. Some of you were at school. Still others might have been having a cup of coffee. I was sitting in my office at church when Wendy called to tell me what had happened. Like many of you, I spent the rest of the day watching it over and over on TV. No matter where you were, you remember those first few moments of unbelief.
And, of course, the first question in our mind is “Why?” That’s normal. It’s okay to ask, “Why?” David asks in verse 1, “Why, O Lord, do you stand so far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” But read the rest of that Psalm and, you know what, David never gets an answer. When these attacks occurred last year, people would ask why. People asked me why. People asked Billy Graham why. His answer was that he didn’t know. It was one of the mysteries of God. I’ll tell you what, if Billy Graham doesn’t know why, I sure couldn’t tell you why, either.
You may have heard people asking, “If there’s a God, why did He allow this to happen?” Which to me, begs the question, Why are people, who claim there is no God or don’t believe in Him, so quick to blame Him when tragedy strikes? But even among believers, we have times when it seems God is far off.
That’s a common error, to think that God is far away when trouble comes. God doesn’t move. He’s right where He was in times of trouble as He was before it happened. But we’re too occupied with our trouble to realize we’ve moved away from God. God is always there. So, if God seems far away, guess who moved? Romans 8:38-39 tells us that NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God.
Yet, on September 11th, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a rural field in Pennsylvania. And we ask the same question of God, “Where are you?” The same question Juliet asked of Romeo. The same question posed of Car 54 in the old TV series. The same question that Job asked in Job 24 where he asks why God seems to turn His back when wrong happens. “Where are you?” Throughout history, whenever tragedy strikes, people want to know where God was? At one time or another each of us has probably wondered where God was. Where is God in times of trouble?
At approximately 8:50 a.m. E. S. T., American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 with 81 passengers, 9 flight attendants, and 2 pilots aboard, headed from Boston to Los Angeles crashes into World Trade Center, the north tower.
Where was God at 8:50 a.m.?
At 9 a.m. a second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 headed from Boston to Los Angeles with 56 passengers, 7 flight attendants and 2 pilots strikes World Trade Center, the south tower.
Where was God at 9:00 a.m.?
At 9:38 a.m. American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 with 58 passengers, 4 flight attendants, and 2 pilots, heading from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, crashes into the west side of the Pentagon, where about 20,000 people work, including most of the nation’s highest-ranking military officials.
Where was God at 9:38 a.m.?
10:09 a.m. World Trade Center - south tower collapses.
Where was God?
10:30 a.m. World Trade Center - north tower collapses.
Where was God?
10:42 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 with 45 people aboard headed from Newark, NJ, to San Francisco, crashes in Somerset County, Pa.
Where was God?
But today, I want to ask and attempt to answer the question that no doubt has puzzled so many since that horrible day: “Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He was when Adam rebelled in Eden – waiting to cover his sin. When Adam and Eve finally came clean, He was there with a covering for them.
“Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He was when Abraham lagged in faith, keeping the fulfillment of His promise, providing a child for Abraham and Sarah in their old age.
“Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He was when Noah built an ark – protecting him from disaster.
“Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He was when Joseph was in jail.
“Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He was when Job lost everything he had. God had not deserted Job. And Job would not curse God, even though he was urged to do so by a less than faithful wife.
“Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He was when Moses in the desert was being prepared for greater service. The same place He was when Samson was being strengthened in his hour of weakness. The same place He was when Jonah was being swallowed by a big fish learning a lesson that God’s way is best. The same place He was when Daniel was being thrown to hungry lions.
The same place He was when Peter & John were being beaten for preaching the Gospel. The same place He was when Paul was being imprisoned – yet assured that all things work together for good of those who love God.
The same place He was when Jesus was hanging on the cross at Calvary, taking the punishment for our sins. God was there, suffering along with Jesus, His only begotten Son.
“Where was God on 9/11?”
The same place He is and has always been. Right there with us, grieving with us, supporting us, caring for us, loving us. The same place He’ll always be in every tragedy we might ever face.
God wants to walk with us through every step on our journey. He’s walking with us on the good days and on the bad days. He’s with us during our “smooth sailing” and He’s with us when the waves are high. He’s with us at the birth of a child and He’s with us at the death of a loved one. He’s with us on the mountaintop and in the valley.
He is with us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, our entire life. He sticks close by even when we turn away from Him. He’s with us even when we don’t deserve it.
This truth is brilliantly captured in this poem you might have heard.
One night I had a dream. I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes of my life. In each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One was mine, and one was the Lord’s. When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and to my surprise I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints, and I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life. I asked the Lord about it: "Lord you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why you left my side when I needed you most." The Lord said: "My precious child, I never left you during your time of trial. Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you."
When we cry, God cries with us. As pilots and stewardesses were murdered to gain control of those planes; God cried. As planes crashed into buildings; God cried. As final phone calls were being made and final words were being spoken; God cried. As the towers collapsed; God cried. As a nation mourned; God cried.
God wasn’t surprised by what happened on 9/11, but He was saddened by it. God did not cause what happened on 9/11, but He does comfort those affected by it.
And while we can’t understand why, we can grab hold of the hand of the One who does. We need to reach out our hands and hearts in faith to the One who created the universe and holds it in His hand. Where was God on 9/11? The same place He is today, right here with us.
