9/11

 

For many Americans, the world completely changed on that fateful and tragic day. In my lifetime, I have never witnessed so many people of different ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds come together, united to support one another and this country. I, too, was swept up in this outpouring of love and compassion for my neighbor. I wanted it to last forever.

 

And then the chinks appeared.

 

Slowly, the stories appeared on the internet. 9/11 was a hoax and likened to the alleged staged moon landing of 1969. It was orchestrated by the United States government. It was a conspiracy of multinationals. It was this…it was that…but it was never the truth.

 

And the love and compassion that was so effusive faded and was replaced with the cynicism and pettiness that marks so much of our worldview. As I lamented this change of events, I thought back to the events that shook the world nearly 2000 years ago. A carpenter turned prophet revealed Himself as the Christ, the Messiah. The people, Jews and Gentiles alike, received the blessings and miracles that He performed. But other jealous leaders were determined to kill him and with the help of the Roman government, succeeded in having Him die the humiliating death of a criminal-crucifixion. Yet three days later, He rose from the dead as He promised and what the Scriptures had foretold. He appeared to numerous witnesses and then ascended to Heaven where He now sits at the right hand of God, the Father.

 

But even in the Bible, we read of the chinks. When the tomb was found empty on that Sunday morning, the Jewish leaders paid the Roman guards to spread the lie that Jesus’ disciples had opened the tomb and stolen His body. We read of the Roman governor Festus who is bewildered over why the Jews are angry with the Apostle Paul who is insisting that Jesus is alive. It is all a myth! It is not the truth!

 

Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

Acts 26:8 (ESV)

 

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is well-documented by hundreds of witnesses. But like the tragic events of 9/11, naysayers quickly intervened and attempted to convince others that the event never occurred. The single most important proof of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is found in His life changing power within your life. God is omnipotent; He can do anything, including raising His own Son from the dead.

 

Read the Bible, study the accounts, then confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And if you do, you will know in your heart, that your faith is not in vain and Jesus Christ is alive and lives within you.

 

Amen!

 

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.