Good morning. Please consider with me the power of the 46th Psalm, and how it applies to this remarkable day in our nation’s history.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,
And though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
Though its waters rage and foam,
And though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
The Lord of hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Are we to remember 9/11 as a call to arms in war against Islam? I certainly hope not. The problem that brought about the terror and losses of that day is far greater than a fight with a world religion. The problem, the war that we are a part of, is against evil itself. Our war is against violence being used to intimidate and coerce. Our war is against hatred based on such superficial things as skin tone, cultural backgrounds, or geographic location. Our war is against the idea that faith in God allows or even requires hatred, violence, and bigotry.
A battle against invisible and violent terrorism cannot be won simply by violent means. The way to overcome terrorism and evil in the world is to infiltrate those systems with the moral good, with peace, and with the love of God. Against the virus of violence, we are to infect the world with the breath of the good and the righteous, with the breath of the Spirit of God, with the breath of Jesus who seeks to reconcile and redeem every person.
Our campaign is perhaps not unlike raising a child. One statement, one failure, one victory, or any single event does not determine the final result. Rather, there is the requirement of patience while we develop a pattern of the good, a habit of the moral right, which shapes our future together. To win this victory I believe with all that is within me that it requires the salvation of the lost, one misguided soul after another. Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ is the only answer for the brokenness that is shaping our world.
I feel that it is essential on this day of the anniversary of the 9/11 horror to remember the truths we are given in Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
This is the proper armor required for victory.
Remember….but above all remember Christ Jesus and consider how His love guides you today.
Vern