What Christ Offers

What Christ Offers

Selected Passages

September 8th, 2002

9/11 Remembrance Service

Introduction

One year ago the clear skies of New York, Washington D.C. and rural Pennsylvania were pierced by hijacked airplanes and a diabolical plan to pierce the soul of our nation. One year ago we woke up from our dreaming and found ourselves living in a nightmare. One year ago we watched as planes become missiles, icons were reduced piles of rubble, lives were lost and hearts were broken. One year ago we watched as our false security was shattered and millions were drawn back to God in masses only to leave Him once the crisis was over.

One year ago, we realized how very fragile life truly is and we were given a reminder of the things that mattered. We hugged our kids and grandchildren a little tighter. We told our spouses that we loved them a little more often. We prayed to God with a little more sincerity. We were given a wake up call from the pits of Hell only to allow Satan to lull us back to sleep.

Life is not the same as it was on September 12th because we are more like we were on September 10th. We have forgotten the lives that were lost on that dreadful day and we have forgotten the lives of those who have been forever changed. We have forgotten the widows who are raising children alone. We have forgotten the parents who will never hold their children again. We have forgotten the heroism shown by ordinary people who rose to the occasion in extraordinary ways. This morning I want to raise fresh awareness in your hearts and minds of our nations deepest wounds and remind you of our only hope for healing.

On September 11th, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives at the World

Trade Center, the Pentagon and in rural fields in Pennsylvania. It was the most devastating attack ever to happen on American soil, carried out by 19 cowards who killed in the name of religion.

In times like these, what does Christ have to offer those who are hurting? What does Christ have to offer to those who are still shaken? What does Christ have to offer to those who still have nagging doubts lingering in their minds? What does Christ have to offer our nation?

I. Christ offers us His Companionship

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Christ has offered to be your companion through all of life. He is with you during the good days and the bad days of life. He stays with you when the seas of life give smooth sailing and He is with you when the waters are rough and skies stormy. He is there when we seek Him and He is there when you don’t seek Him.

Christ never leaves you, ever. He never has and He never will. He is with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, every year that you walk this earth. Christ is always there when you need Him and always ready to help you through life.

This Truth is brilliantly captured in the following poem.

Footprints in the sand

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." Anonymous

I remember a time when we were at the store and Abigail decided to play a trick on me. She hid herself in the middle of a rack of clothes and for just a moment she seemed to vanish. In that moment, I began to panic because I thought that I had lost her. Then she peeked out from behind the clothes and said “boo.” Even though she tried she couldn’t lose me because I was determined that I was going to stay with her.