Alan Jackson's song asks, “Where were you when the world stopped turning?” Most of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing that day. That was the first day that Elaine Denman was to start a counseling ministry in our church building once a week. We spent all morning in the teen classroom completely transfixed by the TV. We were watching when the second plane hit and when each of the towers fell. No work was done that day; a lot of prayers were prayed. The world didn’t really stop turning, but it was changed forever.
The last war fought on American soil was the Civil War. (Regardless of what my kids think of my rapidly advancing age, I don’t remember a lot about that war.). Every war since then has been fought, to use the words of a Word War I era song-- “Over There”
God still reigns over the nations. Psalm 47:8 is just as true today as it was when the sons of Korah wrote it, “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” We live in a fallen world where the evil choices of evil people hurt the innocent. That is not exactly a new development in the history of the world. Jesus said to those who came to arrest him, “But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53, NLT). But just as Jesus looked to God in that time of darkness, so we look to God and his power today. We pray for His peace. We pray His justice. We pray for His will. We pray for His mercy. And we pray for His coming. Peace on earth will always be the impossible dream until the Prince of Peace returns.
The last war fought on American soil was the Civil War. (Regardless of what my kids think of my rapidly advancing age, I don’t remember a lot about that war.). Every war since then has been fought, to use the words of a Word War I era song-- “Over There”
Over there, over there, send the word, send the word over thereAfter September 11, war didn't seem to be just "over there." This new kind of war fought by fundamentalist Islam against us over here. It was a new war against a new enemy that didn’t fight fair. This was an enemy without an army, uniform or country that turned our planes into bombs and used our own freedoms toagainst us to bring their terror to our shores. This was an enemy that seemed to be everywhere, and seemed to be nowhere. Ironically, our response to 9-11 was to launch a "War on Terror" that has once against sent brave men and women to fight “over there.”
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming ev'rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray'r, send the word, send the word to beware.
We'll be over, we're coming over, and we won't come back till it's over, over there
God still reigns over the nations. Psalm 47:8 is just as true today as it was when the sons of Korah wrote it, “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” We live in a fallen world where the evil choices of evil people hurt the innocent. That is not exactly a new development in the history of the world. Jesus said to those who came to arrest him, “But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53, NLT). But just as Jesus looked to God in that time of darkness, so we look to God and his power today. We pray for His peace. We pray His justice. We pray for His will. We pray for His mercy. And we pray for His coming. Peace on earth will always be the impossible dream until the Prince of Peace returns.
4 comments:
Remembering where I was and what I was doing, where I was sent to work during the attacks and the constant interruptions and updates.
I am reminded that when the wolves are allowed into the flock and living among us it’s too late to close the gate to the pasture.
Let me explain; if someone walks into flight school with bags full of money and asks to learn how to fly an airliner who wouldn’t take the money? At the very least check out the false address, take the money, take a picture, pick up the phone and alert the authorities! Those who flew those planes had been planning that for many years. The door was left open and no questions were asked when strangers walked into flight schools with their bags full of money. It was apathy that killed those people. And in our rage we carried the fight “over there”. People got killed, wounded and many of them were innocent, many who were imprisoned and tortured. Those who shined the light on the inhuman treatment of prisoners were punished. Yet life goes on as usual and it all remains, “over there”. How fortunate we have been here, we have so much to be thankful for but in the blink of an eye all that could change. “Over there” could be knocking at our door even now?
Perhaps never in history has any group carried such an elaborate, far reaching and damaging attack (right under the nose of the target) as that which was carried out here, seven years and a day ago. It was only partially successful and could have been much worse. . . Some very brave self sacrificing men and women who are on the other side of eternity, after extensive consultation and much prayer (they had the time and they took advantage of it) they decided the only course of action was to confound the enemy and drive their highjacked aircraft into the ground before it could be used against our governments capital. It was the only one that missed the mark and it would have likely hit the target as the Rambo’s who were in control of it had plans to drive it into the heart of our government. They did not survive and would have not survived, any how, they were very brave, very thoughtful, beautiful children who grew up and saw an opportunity to lesson the blow, they did what they had to do to protect those on the ground that they would never see again on this side of eternity.
God still reigns and will have his way with all nations. Will we continue acknowledging the heavenly father’s sovereignty and the command of our Lord while persecuting the poor among us? What will happen to those who do not comply with His command?
When those on earth are doing God’s will peace is not a dream, at that time heaven and earth overlap and it will be as much a reality on earth as it is in heaven. How we long for that day when peace and light will be all there is forever more, the darkness will be no more. How dark will that darkness be? There will be those who will never know.
Post a Comment