SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 BE THE LIGHT thoughts ON 9/11

Psalms 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

Selah.

Yesterday was 9/11... a day that stirs emotions in all of us (or at least it should). We ask why, yet deep inside we know. As real as God is, so is the devil.. evil is in the world and there are those who seek to destroy us for many reasons that baffle us as we work and live with an amazing freedom. On the evening of 9/10 as I was getting ready to go to bed, I scrolled one last time through Face Book and saw a plethora of memes and stories about 9/11. Pictures of the towers before, during and after they were hit by two airplanes. Everyone has a different perspective or angle, news outlets and social media, left wing, right wing, Christian, non-Christian… extremists and conspiracy theorists, all pushing their agenda. One thing that strikes me every time we have a huge tragedy is that people directly affected respond in love and compassion towards each other. Helping without hesitation. Not asking first what their religious or political stance is…not looking at skin color or concerned with nationality, just simply serving and sacrificing for a fellow human being. I remember the days the towers fell, a friend called me and demanding that I come to him and tell him what was going on in the world. He was not a believer. Prayed for him and led him to the Lord that day in the driveway of one of his clients. We have this mantra we all say at this time… Never Forget! But, yet we do forget, so quickly. For a few months , churches swelled in attendance, people were kind to each other, military recruits lined up to defend our freedom. But, slowly we got back to our humanness, dividing over “religion”, political issues and skin color. Obviously I am writing from a Biblical world view and perspective, so it makes sense to say that God is in control (good or bad) and if we want to see true change in our country, then followers of Christ (AKA-Christians) need to bolster their faith. Saturating ourselves in Gods word and dropping to our knees and passionately praying, scratch that… passionately CRYING out to God.

With this in mind I can’t help but look at the words found in 2 Chronicles.

2 Chronicles 7:14

...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

This is a huge wake up call. We as Gods people have a responsibility for the time we live in, for our society, for shaping our culture. We must not just look at the sin and evil in the world and simply curse it. Rather, Lord, forgive us! In the book of Matthew Jesus said that we are to be the salt and light of planet Earth.

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Our country is viewed as a Christian nation from outside our borders, bet we all know it is far from it. And the reality is that we must take responsibility for the shape of our country. We are the ones who can bring hope, and healing as we proclaim Gods word. We should be consistently on our knees asking God first if there is any unrighteousness in us first and taking care of that, then asking God to help us se where we are failing as a nation and asking for forgiveness for that as well. Then, putting our prayers to action. Pushing away the darkness of our world and shedding light…

Do not just grumble and complain, do not just curse the evil you see, BE THE LIGHT!

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Let me simplify it for you… Love God… Love Each other…

God is indeed our refuge and strength!