September 11

The walls of Jerusalem had been broken down. The ravages of war had devastated the city. The walls had been burned with fire. Survivors had been left in great distress. The news of the carnage had reached the ears of Jeremiah, an official in the administration of Xerxes, the king of Persia. Nehemiah’s response to the news is recorded in his journal. “So it was when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying to the God of Heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4 I sat glued to the news on the television screen. Zealots had hijacked planes and flown them into the World Trade Center in New York City and Pentagon in Washington D. C. The targets of this heinous act lay in ruins. Over 3000 people had been murdered. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters fell victim to the deeds of evil men. The carnage served as a tomb for the killed, as a memorial to the lost, and an ensign of hatred to the perpetrators of evil . Four hijacked airplanes filled with passengers flew to their death. Rescue workers were killed trying to assist and save as many survivors as possible. I felt utterly hopeless. I could not lash out at the evil actions. I could not journey to New York City or Washington D.C. to help to clean up of the rubble. I could not provide comfort for the families of the victims. What could I do? Nehemiah tells us what he did. First he wept. Then he prayed. And he worked with the people to restore the relationship of a nation back to God. Then I said to them, “You see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem lays waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be an approach.” Nehemiah 2:17 There is a time for mourning. There is a time for prayer. Then that must be followed by a call to work and rebuild. With the passing of this past seven years, we have seen our nation mourn the loss incurred on September 11, 2001. We have seen a nation turn to God in renewed patriotic and religious zeal. We have seen our nation fortify itself with resolve to strengthen our defenses, cherish our traditions and restore our values against attacks by those with evil intent. In 2001 we stood as a nation on the precipice of division. Let us remember and honor the traditions of the past for which this country has been founded upon. Let us work for the future for the honor and character to build upon tomorrow. Today we are ONE NATION UNDER GOD Let us not waste that heritage; but through prayer, devotion to God, adherence to righteousness and renewal of faith may we work to build for future generations a nation committed to God’s grace. God Bless America. God bless us every one. Jim