September 11, 2001
A Day of Destruction

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September 11, 2001

Was A Day Unlike Any Other In American History

 

8:45 am–American Airlines Flight 11 is hijacked by terrorists.  The jet is diverted from its normal course and slams into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

 

9:03 am–Another suicide pilot slices United Flight 175 into the south tower.  A terrible explosion engulfs the skyscraper.

 

The two unexpected collisions cause a blazing inferno of disaster.  Tragically, many people jump to their deaths to escape the intense smoke and heat of the burning towers.  Other employees rush to stairwells to escape, but many are trapped, crushed, or burned to death in their flight to safety.

 

9:50 am–The unthinkable happens! The south tower collapses into powder, killing thousands.

 

10:29 am–Again, the incomprehensible repeats itself as the north tower crumbles.  A multitude of victims are buried under the rubble and New York City is suddenly turned into an eerie smoke and ash-filled death zone.

 

For thousands of people, September 11 was just another day.  Their alarms woke them, they dressed, ate breakfast, and went to work.  They never imagined this would be their last day on earth (Luke 12:20).  Some boarded planes to return home, others were traveling for business or pleasure.  They were all going somewhere–indeed, we are all going somewhere.

 

BUT WHERE DID THEY ALL ACTUALLY GO?

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The Bible says...

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Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment... 

 

The victims of the WTC attacks and all others who died on September 11, 2001 went to judgment.  Though they died suddenly, unexpectedly, and tragically, God will assuredly judge them all.  They will not be judged by how they died, but rather, how they lived. 

 

We're All Part Of A Sobering Statistic: 100 Out Of 100 People Die!

 

If you had died in this awful calamity would you be able to stand before the scrutinizing and searching light of God's holy judgment?

 

Revelation 6:15-17  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

 

In the wake of these heartbreaking events, there is a universal and urgent thirst for justice. The unified cry from nearly every corner of our nation is, "We must find and punish these wicked men!"  Rest assured, the men responsible for this well-planned and brutal attack will be punished by God in due time.  But so will all who violate God's holy law.  Remember, God is just.  He hates all sin, not just the sins that adversely affect us.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether

it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

Have you violated God's holy law?  If you have, the Bible says the consequence (or wage) is eternal death and endless torment in hell fire (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8).  

 

"What law?" you may ask.  Have you kept the Ten Commandments (a basic Biblical list expressing God's moral law)?  

 

Romans 3:20  ...by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

 

It is God’s holy law (Romans 7:7, 12) that exposes sinful human behavior as utterly reprehensible and worthy of the severest divine retribution.  Dear reader, with a tender conscience, will you not carefully consider the holy standard of God’s Ten Commandments? 

 

I.  THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.  Is there anyone or anything more important to you than God and His will for your life?  Does your entire life revolve around obeying and pleasing Him?  If not, you've broken the first and greatest commandment (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 27:37-38). 

 

II.  THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE.  Tribal cultures make their gods out of stone and wood while progressive societies tend to fashion their gods with the hands of imagination.  Are you sure that your notions of God are based on the revelation of Scripture?  Do you love and worship the God of the Bible?  If not, you are guilty of idolatry and no idolater shall enter heaven (Exodus 20:3-6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:20).

 

III.  THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.  Have you ever used the name of God as a slang word? The Bible says "the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7). 

 

IV.  REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY.  Have you always honored the Lord's commandment to keep the Sabbath?  Do you recognize a day of the week as a day set aside exclusively for rest and spiritual reflection?  If not, you are a Sabbath breaker (Exodus 20:8-11).

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V.  HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.  Have you ever been disrespectful to your parents?  Failure to give due respect to your father and mother brings God's righteous judgment against you (Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 20:20).  

 

VI. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.  Have you ever hated anyone?  Jesus said that hatred of heart is equivalent to murder!  And the Bible teaches that murderers are destined to burn forever in hell (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:36).

 

VII. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.  Have you ever lusted?  Jesus said if you merely look on a woman with lust, you've committed adultery with her in your heart.  All adulterers will perish (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:28).

 

VIII.  THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.  Have you ever stolen (the value is irrelevant)?  If so, you are a thief.  The Bible declares that no thief has eternal life (Exodus 20:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

 

IX. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS.  Have you ever told a lie (including fibs, half-truths, little-white-lies, and exaggerations, etc.)?  If you have, you are a liar.  Revelation 21:8 says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Exodus 20:16).

 

X.  THOU SHALT NOT COVET.  Are you eager to become rich?  Do you often envy others for what they possess?  The Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil  (1 Timothy 6:10) and that the covetous will be judged (Exodus 20:17; 1 Corinthians 6:10).

 

Furthermore, the Bible says that if you are guilty of breaking even one of God's laws you are guilty of breaking them all.  And remember, the Bible declares that no lawbreaker shall enter heaven.

 

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 

 

If you are honest, you have found that the law of God has exposed you as guilty (Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:24).  You have discovered yourself a sinner (one who commits sin).  Tragically, if you commit sin, then sin has become your master (John 8:34).  Hence, you are not only under the penalty of sin you are likewise under its spellbinding power.  Dear sinner, the problem with man is not merely one of behaviorbut one of nature.  Therefore, the Bible declares you must be utterly changed (John 3:3).  However, it is impossible for you to deliver yourself (Jeremiah 13:23) as sin has rendered you helpless, shattered, and lost.  You are not only in need of forgiveness but you are also in need of cleansing.  What will you do?  Is there any hope?  Is there anyone who can help?  The Bible alone offers you this good news:

 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR AND DELIVERER FROM ALL SIN!  

 

If you will be saved from the power and penalty of your sin, you must repent (turn from all sin to serve and follow Jesus) and put your complete faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son.  When Jesus died on the cross, He became your sin-offering, dying to free you from the bondage of sin.  He, once and for all, stepped into the courtroom of your judgment and completely paid the fine.  Then He rose from the dead, defeating death.  If you want to be saved from sin and hell, confess and forsake your sin (Proverbs 28:13) and put your faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation. When you make Jesus your Lord (Romans 10:9) you will pass from death to life.  Now, go and sin no more, read the Bible daily and obey what you read (see John 14:21).  God will never fail you.   –B.W.

 

Rev. 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged…