Saturday, September 11, 2010

A Day for Remembering

How do we react when something unexpected occurs? Nine years ago, our nation received a wakeup call. Unexpectedly, two hijacked planes flew into the Twin Towers in New York City, one plane flew into The Pentagon in Washington D.C., and one plane crashed near Pittsburgh. The passengers on these planes never expected that their flights would end in unimaginable tragedy. They simply boarded the planes according to plans. Regretfully, so did the hijackers. Obviously, these people did not wake up knowing that September 11, 2001, would be the last day they would hug their children, their sisters and their parents. Nonetheless, many families still face the grief of losing loved ones nine years ago from today.

God calls us to live holy and godly lives in the last days of this earth. No ones knows when the last days are, "not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows," but we do know God's love (Matthew 24:36b NLT). We know how He calls us to live in peaceful accordance with our neighbors, both kind and aggravating. He calls us to forgive. Matthew 6:15 tell us that, "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (NKJV). Wow. You mean God won't forgive me if I don't forgive the people who hurt me? No. When we refuse to forgive, we surround our love for others and for God with impenetrable walls. We show no mercy, we show no love; we only want revenge. How can God forgive someone who shows no desire to be forgiven?

If today was your last day, how would your friends, family and neighbors react? Would they grieve the loss of a dearly beloved friend, or would they scoff at the sight of a bitter enemy who never once asked for forgiveness? Would they tell the world the legacy you left behind, or would they ashamedly claim they never knew you? I encourage you: forgive every grievance and live every day as if it was your last.

"But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live" (1 Peter 3:8-11, NLT).
Were you affected by 9/11? Post comments and/or questions below.