Adventists
Respond to Attack on America

That morning, our nation was dramatically changed. Terror spread its ugly, evil tentacles into our homes and hearts in a new and horrific way. For nearly all of us, the day began as any other Tuesday. Then, at precisely 8:48 a.m. (EST), a hijacked American Airlines jet loaded with passengers streaked across the New York skyline and slammed into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. As an angry, smoky fireball billowed from the stricken 1,368-foot skyscraper, about 18 minutes later, at 9:06 a.m., another hijacked jet hurtled into the second tower. And while we were still reeling from the shock, yet another plane dove into the Pentagon, while a fourth commercial flight crashed in a remote area near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The World Trade Center towers burst into flames, and then, to our utter horror, collapsed. Flames engulfed the Pentagon. In stunned disbelief, we witnessed sights none of us will ever forget. Images were indelibly and forever seared into our memories.

Suddenly, huge questions emerged in our minds.
What are we to make of this tragedy? Where was God in all of this? How do we interpret it or possibly make sense of it—or explain it to our children? Is there any way to ease the pain and shock and anger of it all?

I believe there is. The Bible presents an incredibly encouraging picture of God. This view of God gives us courage in a time of overwhelm-ing crisis.

It gives us hope in a time of despair. It gives us peace in a time of distress. It gives us comfort in a time of sorrow. Where is God in the midst of such a calamity? Where can we see Him? Please allow me to tell you one thing first and emphatically. God was not seen in the savage, ruthless acts of these terrorists.

Here is why we can know that. Listen to 1 John 2:9, 10: “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”

A little later the apostle John wrote: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8. That’s the bottom line. If you don’t love, you don’t know God.

The world we live in is the battleground between intense hatred and incredible love. It is a world where good and evil are locked in mortal combat. But an all-wise God does not always step in to prevent the results of evil. He does not—at least not yet—stop hate-filled people from carrying out horrible acts.

Where is God when people suffer?
God values freedom. He allows men and women to make choices even if those choices are terribly wrong and evil. His only other option would be to remove their freedom of choice altogether. Then they would become mere human machines—robots. God allows evil to run its course, but He is always there in the midst of human suffering.

He is there comforting those who mourn. He is there suffering with those who suffer. He is there weeping with those who weep. He is there sustaining, strengthening, and supporting. He is there encouraging the brokenhearted and embracing the bruised.

The well-known 23rd Psalm declares, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The 46th Psalm adds these hopeful words: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” In the midst of our personal pain and grief, God is there. Beyond the tears and heartache and sorrow of it all, if we pause, we will hear Him saying, “I love you. I will heal your broken heart. I will bind up your wounds.”

Where was God when terror rained from the sky that fateful September morning? Where could you see Him?

You could see Him in the selfless people who patiently helped injured co-workers down 80 flights of stairs, even as the World Trade Center towers were ablaze and moments from collapsing. You could see Him in the scores of firefighters and police officers who unhesitatingly rushed into harm’s way at the scene and then were buried when the buildings collapsed. You could see God in all the people who rushed to give blood or make donations or volunteer their time.

Every time you saw unselfish love, God was there. And I will remind you that the greatest act of unselfish love this universe has ever witnessed still speaks to us from a bloodstained cross on a rugged hill called Calvary.

Satan, the hijacker of Planet Earth, focused his vindictive wrath on God’s own Son. An innocent man died on the cross that day. He did not deserve to die. But His death reveals the only answer to this world’s hate. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.

God’s persistent love
God knows what it’s like to experience the wrench-ing agony of having a loved one snatched away by death. He lost His Son too, you know. But sin and death did not have the final word! On that glorious resurrection morning, Jesus stepped out of the tomb alive. That day, He conquered sin and death and the grave.

The love of Jesus speaks to us from that bloodied cross. That’s the wonderful assurance we can cling to. Horrible calamities may happen. But through it all, God’s love persists.

God’s love persists even when we lose sight of it. God’s love persists even when we rebel against it. God’s love persists even in the face of death. That’s something we can count on in times of tragedy. We may not have all the answers. We may be confused, hurt, even angry. But God’s love is always there for us—and it is forever. Life’s horrible tragedies speak to us of how fragile life really is. The people who went to work at the World Trade Center that Tuesday morning couldn’t possibly have imagined the fiery fate that awaited them. Those who drove to their Pentagon offices that morning had no idea what was about to happen.

To each of us, the shocking realization that life can be snuffed out in an instant is a wake-up call to deeper commitment. And tragedies call us to refocus our priorities. Jesus stated it succinctly: “Seek you first the kingdom of God.” Matthew 6:33.

When terror is gone forever
Do you sense God calling you to a new or deeper relationship with Him? Maybe you have never surren-dered to the claims of His love. He is inviting you to make that commitment right now. He will joyfully, unhesitatingly accept you just as you are. He will forgive your sins and give you a new sense of peace in your life. God has an incredible plan for this world, and He wants you to be part of it. The Bible begins with a perfect world, and after sin’s interruption, it ends with a perfect world. Disaster does not have the final word—God does. Destruction does not have the final word—God does. Death does not have the final word—God does.

Listen to this: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. . . and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying, and there shall be no more pain, for the former things are passed away. . . then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’. . . and He said to me, ‘It is done.’” Revelation 21:1, 4-6.

One day, God will speak those triumphant words, “IT IS DONE!” Sickness, suffering, and sorrow are over. It is done! Worry, want, and war are over. It is done! Tears, tragedy, and terrorism are over. It is done! Horror, heartbreak, and hopeless-ness are over. It is done! Disease, disaster, and death are over. It is done!

One day, we will look up and see Jesus. One day, we will live with Him forever. One day, all of our tragedies will fade away in the glorious light of His final triumph.

I invite you to bow your head right now, wherever you are, and surrender your life to this Jesus who loves you enough to come and take you to His eternal home—a home where tears and tragedy and terror are gone forever!