Why?

Why?

By Ian Biss (9/16/01)

Tuesday’s chronology of terror - September 11, 2001

8:45 a.m. (all times are EDT): A hijacked passenger jet, American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire.

9:03 a.m.: A second hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston, crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes. Both buildings are burning.

9:17 a.m.: The Federal Aviation Administration shuts down all New York City area airports.

9:40 a.m.: The FAA halts all flight operations at U.S. airports, the first time in U.S. history that air traffic nationwide has been halted.

9:43 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.

9:45 a.m.: The White House evacuates.

10:05 a.m.: The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses, plummeting into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly drifts away from the building.

10:10 a.m.: A portion of the Pentagon collapses.

10:10 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 93, also hijacked, crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh.

10:28 a.m.: The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses from the top down as if it were being peeled apart, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and smoke.

11:18 a.m.: American Airlines reports it has lost two aircraft. American Flight 11, a Boeing 767 flying from Boston to Los Angeles, had 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard. Flight 77, a Boeing 757 en route from Washington’s Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members aboard. Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.

11:26 a.m.: United Airlines reports that United Flight 93, en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California, has crashed in Pennsylvania. The airline also says that it is "deeply concerned" about United Flight 175.

11:59 a.m.: United Airlines confirms that Flight 175, from Boston to Los Angeles, has crashed with 56 passengers and nine crew members aboard. It hit the World Trade Center’s south tower.

4:10 p.m.: Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex is reported on fire.

5:20 p.m.: The 47-story Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex collapses. The evacuated building is damaged when the twin towers across the street collapse earlier in the day. Other nearby buildings in the area remain ablaze.

7:45 p.m.: The New York Police Department says that at least 78 officers are missing. The city also says that as many as half of the first 400 firefighters on the scene were killed

8:30 p.m.: President Bush addresses the nation, saying "thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil" and asks for prayers for the families and friends of Tuesday’s victims. "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," he says. The president says the U.S. government will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed the acts and those who harbor them. He adds that government offices in Washington are reopening for essential personnel Tuesday night and for all workers Wednesday.

And now we ask, why?

There is always a lesson to be learned when tragedy strikes, and I believe that there are many ways that God can reach us through the tragedy of terrorism that befell our country last week. This morning we’ll learn the answer to the question that asks, why?

Read Text, Proverbs 24: 15-20

Why do such terrible things happen to innocent people? I believe the answer can be found in these verses.

God is the creator of all things, and He loves His creation. After all, He sent His son because He loved the world so much. John 3:16.

God loves the church goers, but He also loves the terrorists. Hard to believe, you say?

He loves them, whether you and I like it or not. He loves everyone, American or not.

Read Romans 4:5

And because of His great love for the wicked, He gives grace to them by warning them in His word, and He gives those who are His comfort in His word when tragedy strikes.

We see that in our text today. God is trying to get through to those who would do evil before they have a chance to hurt themselves or others.

I. Mercy to the wicked. vs. 15&16

Exposition

God will be proven, He will show mankind that He is Lord! He will not be mocked.

As long as there is a freewill in man, man will do evil, and God warns the one who would do evil. Why? Because God is merciful. He doesn’t wish that any would perish.

God warns the wicked not to hurt the righteous, run from your wicked ways, or you will be brought down by your own deeds.