"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
Matthew 5:4 KJV
Another September 11th is here...
Matthew 5:4 KJV
Another September 11th is here...
For me and millions of others, it's a time to reflect and mourn and remember an event that has been etched in the minds of many people from all walks of life.
September 11, 2001. In an act of terrorism, hijacked jets crashed into each of what was then known as the Twin Towers, which had been part of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan's financial district in New York City. Both structures eventually collapsed, leaving many dead, some with their remains yet to be identified. While another hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where many perished. And still another crashed in a desolate field in rural Pennsylvania, in which there were no survivors.
I happened to be listening to the news on my radio that day when the story of a plane crashing into one of the Twin Towers broke. And things of course escalated from there when the other hijacked jets hit their targets. The last one crashed after brave passengers tried to fight back against the hijackers with the hope of taking back control of their aircraft. They were unsuccessful, however.
I know these attacks affected me then, and they affect me today, some twenty-three years later. As is my custom, I try to make it my business to watch the ceremonial events which the major news networks provide for their viewers. As the names of the victims are read off publicly by their surviving relatives, I would silently pray for those who've been left to grieve. I do this every year.
Hearing their words of sorrow and seeing the pain in their faces, my prayer for them is for the Lord to comfort their hearts. And there is no one better than Jesus to comfort those who hurt and grieve. The gospel accounts in the New Testament attest to this.
Messiah Jesus wept over the grave of His friend Lazarus, whom He would soon resurrect from the dead. By doing this, the Lord would grant Lazarus another chance at life, while also reuniting him with his two grieving sisters. He likewise did something similar at a funeral procession, in a town called Nain, for a young man who died. He was the only son of a woman who was a widow. With one touch to the coffin, the son was restored to life.
Humankind was not created to die, but to live with God in heaven, forever. For those who repent of their sins and place their faith in the Lord Jesus, He has promised them the gift of eternal life.
As Jesus said to Lazarus' sister Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" And she replied, "Yes, Lord. I have always believed You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who has come into the world from God." John 11:25-26.*
Well, I too believe as Martha did. So I will continue to say my prayers for those who lost loved ones.
D.B.
*New Living Translation
September 11, 2001. In an act of terrorism, hijacked jets crashed into each of what was then known as the Twin Towers, which had been part of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan's financial district in New York City. Both structures eventually collapsed, leaving many dead, some with their remains yet to be identified. While another hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where many perished. And still another crashed in a desolate field in rural Pennsylvania, in which there were no survivors.
I happened to be listening to the news on my radio that day when the story of a plane crashing into one of the Twin Towers broke. And things of course escalated from there when the other hijacked jets hit their targets. The last one crashed after brave passengers tried to fight back against the hijackers with the hope of taking back control of their aircraft. They were unsuccessful, however.
I know these attacks affected me then, and they affect me today, some twenty-three years later. As is my custom, I try to make it my business to watch the ceremonial events which the major news networks provide for their viewers. As the names of the victims are read off publicly by their surviving relatives, I would silently pray for those who've been left to grieve. I do this every year.
Hearing their words of sorrow and seeing the pain in their faces, my prayer for them is for the Lord to comfort their hearts. And there is no one better than Jesus to comfort those who hurt and grieve. The gospel accounts in the New Testament attest to this.
Messiah Jesus wept over the grave of His friend Lazarus, whom He would soon resurrect from the dead. By doing this, the Lord would grant Lazarus another chance at life, while also reuniting him with his two grieving sisters. He likewise did something similar at a funeral procession, in a town called Nain, for a young man who died. He was the only son of a woman who was a widow. With one touch to the coffin, the son was restored to life.
Humankind was not created to die, but to live with God in heaven, forever. For those who repent of their sins and place their faith in the Lord Jesus, He has promised them the gift of eternal life.
As Jesus said to Lazarus' sister Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" And she replied, "Yes, Lord. I have always believed You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who has come into the world from God." John 11:25-26.*
Well, I too believe as Martha did. So I will continue to say my prayers for those who lost loved ones.
D.B.
*New Living Translation
