Tonight my pastor preached a sermon that was completely convicting and powerful. I will not attempt to re-preach his sermon, and I am probably much too tired to do the topic justice, but I had to at least try.
In the aftermath of 9/11, we heard a lot of songs and poems and stories which were written by people needing an outlet for the grief and pain and outrage we were feeling at the time. Most of the time we were asked to focus our attention on the feelings and desperation of the victims, and certainly nobody would fault a hurting nation for drawing inward and "licking our wounds," so to speak.
However, what if we were to ask ourselves this question and answer it honestly:
"What Did God See On September 11, 2001?"
Obviously we know that He saw planes hurtling into skyscrapers and slamming into the ground and devastating the symbols of our military strength. He felt the fear and the tears and the destruction. He saw the families and the heroes. He felt and He knew the pain of our loss and helplessness.
But, knowing our loving Heavenly Father the way that we do, what do you really think He saw?
He saw the souls. The never-dying souls of men and women and children. He saw them entering eternity without Him. He saw the souls of the hijackers, the souls of those who threw themselves from windows many stories above the ground, the souls of those who died in the fires and in the crashes. How many of them went into eternity without God? God knows. He saw them that day. And Jesus, who sits at the Father's right hand, and whose very life was given to redeem the souls of those who died, saw them too. Perhaps He stood and reached out His hand to those who were dying, only to realize it was too late for them. If there is crying in Heaven, perhaps He viewed the awful sight through tears of compassion and mercy.
Many times it seems that we are able to accept and acknowledge what we know to be true about the power and greatness of God. We comprehend, at least to what extent we can, the ultimate control He exerts upon the world. Why is it then, that we fail to even attempt to understand His love. The unconditional love that loves so perfectly. The mercy that reaches out with such compassion. Do we fail to realize that Christ's love extends to everyone...the disillusioned, the confused, the rebellious, the ignorant...everyone?
While none of us may be able to make much of an individual difference in the world-wide "war on terror," I do believe we can each make a difference in the role the chief terrorist of the world is currently playing in the lives of our friends and family members. We may not be able to go halfway around the world and hunt down those terrorists (remembering, of course, that Jesus died for them too) but can we walk across the street? Can we pick up the phone and call? What can we do in the lives of those whom we love to bring them closer to Christ? How can we influence our friends and our neighbors and our family members to walk away from their sinfulness and selfishness?
According to statistics, every 5 seconds, over 10 people in the world die. Of those 10 people, 7 are dying without Christ.
I have been challenged to take a look at my own life and see what I am doing to make a difference in the lives of the people in my circle of influence. God, help me to be faithful! Help me to see the world as you see it. Help me to see the souls of my loved ones through your eyes.
I would challenge us, as the 6th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country approaches, to not only remind ourselves of that day and of the changes it has brought into our lives and nations. But I would also ask us to be reminded of the tragedy, each and every day, of souls going into eternity without God. Shouldn't our primary goal as Christians be reaching people and leading them into a relationship with Christ?
I know I haven't shared this as eloquently or smoothly as I would have liked, but I know that I have been shaken as I have contemplated these truths. And my prayer is that I would always be faithful to the souls of those around me...my friends, my students, my co-workers, my family. Let's hold each other up in prayer and let's determine to make a difference in the battle against the terrible enemy of our souls!
May God bless you this week and make you a blessing to all whose lives you touch!
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