This is the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack in the US and it is all over the internet. Though I am thankful for the memorial services and efforts to bring it to our attention, it has been forgotten by most Americans.
They forgot their feelings as they watched planes filled with people crashing into the World Trade Center towers. They forgot what it was like to helplessly watch as people plunged to their death from the burning buildings. They even forgot how much their lives changed since that fateful day! How could they forget such terrible events so quickly?
With the reminders and the memorials, how can I say they forgot? I see it in their actions. Though the attack cost us a trillion dollars and thousands of lives, with the totals rising every day, we have let down our guard. Our politicians are back to fighting each other instead of the terrorists. Our military capability has been reduced to dangerous levels, but the threat has greatly increased. Our borders are open to anyone who really tries to enter and many come through the front door. We are more worried about political correctness than protecting our loved ones. We can’t blame it all on the politicians, because they work for us.
This reminds me of something else we forgot. We forgot that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). We forgot that JESUS took the punishment we deserve for our sins. We forgot how hot Hell is, how wonderful Heaven is and how long eternity will be. How could we forget such things so quickly?
With so many “religious” reminders in this world, how can I say we forgot? I see it in the way we act. Though the GOD of the Universe loved us so much, He sacrificed His son and JESUS loved us enough to die in our place, we fail to treasure these precious gifts. We fight for our rights, instead of against the sin that will destroy us. We tolerate sin, while mocking righteousness and virtue. We are more worried about political correctness than protecting our loved ones. We can’t blame it all on the world because we let it happen.
Did you forget to remind them? JESUS told us “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NLT). If you obey, they won’t forget, and neither will you.
Wayne Lance (9/11/2016)