I still can’t imagine the horror it must have been for the
people of 9/11 in the buildings, on the streets, and in the cities and
countryside, watching the terror that seemed to never end; fearing for their
lives and the lives of their loved ones; hoping for signs of life only to find
death and destruction.
How do we as Christ followers respond in such disaster? Does
God get the blame? How do we watch for His hand in times of crisis? How do we
minister to those who are fearful and grieving?
God is still a good God, even when there is crisis,
destruction, natural disaster, and war. He created a perfect world and gave it
to man to govern. His will is that Earth will be like heaven—as the Lord Jesus
taught us to pray. In the new covenant that Jesus came and died to birth, our
understanding of God must be in the character of Jesus, who came in human form
to reveal our Father in heaven. Any understanding we have of God that is not in
the character of Jesus is not in line with what Jesus taught us about a God who
loves, wants to bring life, desires that no one perish, and who wants to bless.
Through one man—Adam—sin, evil, and destruction entered the
whole earth. Through one man—Jesus—there is promise of redemption and
reconciliation. Through the revealing of the sons of God—that’s us—there is
promise of the earth being healed. The creation is crying out for the children
of God to know who they are.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will
I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children
of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:19
Jesus told us that whoever we forgive, He will forgive; and
whoever we condemn, He will condemn. We are partners in this governing of
earth. When we rise up in intercession and stop judging and condemning and
instead start forgiving and asking God to give others the favor He has bestowed
on us, the healing will begin.
It’s a frightening thing when the church judges a nation
like Japan or a city like San Francisco with condemning remarks that “justify”
God allowing disaster. Instead of condemning and judging, we need to forgive,
bring mercy, and extend a hand of help and love. Do they all deserve it? No.
But neither do we.
We don’t know all of the answers, but we do know that God
does respond to prayer, He is with us in disaster, and He is working. Again, we
need to be thankful for what He is doing and has done and not focus on what He
hasn’t done.
On every anniversary of 9/11, I thank God that He has been
revealed to our nation in mighty acts of heroism, love, mercy, protection,
provision, and unity.
I thank Him for intervening in a million things we will
never know about.
Excerpt from Tapestry - The Divine Design For Your Life by Christine Tracy, Tate Publishing, Release date - winter, 2013.
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