Romeo, Car 54, And God

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.