I didn’t pay attention to what day it was until I almost hit “publish” on another blog post and realized that it would publish on “9-11” – and all of a sudden my mind swept back to fourteen years ago and right where I was when I first heard the news of what we all thought was some tragic accident… until it happened again… and again.
So much has been brought to light this year about things I can’t comprehend – much less begin to articulate intelligently here – about the “perfect storm” of events colliding at the end of September 2015… about events unrelated, yet related in that they are supposed to bring us to another humbling like 9-11 did. That’s what the predictors say.
I don’t put much stock in predictors, end-of-the-world-prophets, etc. But I do put every trust in what God says in Scripture… and when I look around at our nation, One Nation founded Under God, a nation who has done everything it can to remove God from everything it can… I can’t help but wonder how much longer God’s mercy will continue to sustain us before He allows us to be totally crushed by our enemies. And 9-11 will have just been a taste of things to come.
But there is hope. Always hope. Because there is always God. And it is God’s will that NONE should perish.
“The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” 2 Peter 3:9
Praise the Lord!
So what can we do?
You’ve heard and seen this verse many times. It is a PROMISE with a CONDITION. An IF and THEN.
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
IF: God’s people – those who belong to Him… and this nation who was founded on His principles
IF: God’s people will humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face
IF: God’s people will turn from their wicked ways
THEN: God will hear.
THEN: God will forgive our sins as individuals and as a nation.
THEN: God will heal our country! Healing instead of destruction!!!
I can start with me. You can start with you. Then we can let God use us to spread His message of hope and healing to this dying nation and humbly beg our countrymen to join us on our knees…
Many will be asking this question today:
What do you remember about September 11, 2001? Or Where were you when you heard?
I challenge you to answer it in a way that lifts up the name of Jesus. Did God do something good in and around your life in the midst of that tragedy? Give glory to God for all He has done – and use this as a springboard for calling this nation back to God.
God used the tragedy of September 11 as a wake up call for my husband’s father and step-mother. They kept putting off their relationship with Jesus, thinking that they would have more time later to get that part of their lives in order. The destruction and devestation that happened in just a few hours showed them how vulnerable we really are, and that nothing and no one lasts forever. They realized that there was no one they could put their trust in, not our nation, our government, not our financial institutions, not their jobs, not themselves… no one, except the God who created and sustained the Earth. They started going to church that next Sunday, and soon decided to put their hope and trust in Jesus Christ for Eternal Salvation and Security. Both of them died a few years later, but both are enjoying Heaven with Jesus!!! They humbled themselves, sought the Lord’s face, prayed, turned from their wicked ways, and God in His mercy saved them, and they are with Him now, instead of in hell, eternally separated from God, where they would have been, pre 9-11. To God be the glory!!!!!
Lets let this be a day of prayer for this nation, and a day of praise to God… because NOTHING is too big or too terrible for Him to use… if we will humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways…
Oh, Father… please heal us as a nation of individuals… and heal this land!
