Remembrance of 9-11

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Hope After Terrorism - Remembrance of 9/11

Hope After Terrorism

Remembrance of 9/11

Do We Remember?

A specter of fear haunts this memorial of 9/11. The threat of chemical, biological and even nuclear terror attacks is real. An attack on Iraq, in spite of warnings from Arab oil- producing nations, could precipitate a worldwide energy crisis besides a high body count.

Actually, the world faces multiple crises. The TIME MAGAZINE (August 26) observed:

Imagine a future of relentless storms and floods; islands and heavily inhabited coastal regions inundated by rising sea levels; fertile soils rendered barren by drought and the desert’s advance; mass migrations of environmental refugees; and armed conflicts over water and other precious natural resources.

WHY? Man’s greed has turned the elements of nature against himself.

Yet, the God and Creator of the Universe assures us He cares—He shares our afflictions (Isaiah 63:9). Not that God literally cries, but God uses the imagery of shedding “tears” even when we are wayward, to assure us of His love and concern (Jeremiah 9:1, 17-18, JPS).

Why Does God Permit Evil?

God knew humankind could only be happy individually and collectively if each one loved and obeyed God’s laws for the well being of all. God also knew that due to a lack of experience with the consequences of violating His moral and environmental laws, man would disobey these laws. A parent will tell a baby not to touch the stove because it is hot. But what does a baby know about pain? Inevitably the baby will touch the stove. Before that, a wise parent will lightly and quickly place the child’s hand where the heat is not too severe. Likewise, God is giving mankind a controlled experience with the consequences of violating these laws.

Knowing man would disobey, God lovingly planned for man’s redemption through Jesus’ death BEFORE God even created the earth (1 Peter 1:19-20). This meant His fatherly heart would be deeply grieved as He watched man trampled down by man’s own machinations of evil. Yet God has wonderful loving thoughts—recorded in the Bible—concerning man’s restoration to His favor. Yes, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:22, "as in Adam all die," but he continues, "so in Christ shall all be made alive" in God’s Kingdom. Why? Because Jesus died "a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9).

First, God is training Christians to reign with Christ in his Kingdom as sympathetic priests and kings (Revelation 20:6). While the minds of men are now scarred and twisted by tragedy, Christians experience the same disasters but are helped and made compassionate by the holy Spirit. Why? So that they will be able to heal the minds of their fellowmen when they come forth to their probation or trial time in the Kingdom (John 5:28-29, NAS, NRSV). With a vivid remembrance of the bitter effects of sin and evil, mankind will learn the joyful rewards of living righteously and then make their choice for eternity (Jeremiah 31:34).

The question is no longer – Why do good people suffer? Rather, Why has God permitted a horrific human history of blood, tragedy, pain and mental anguish that would tear away at His fatherly emotions of love?