Yesterday was the anniversary of 9/11. Where were you when you heard the towers had been hit? Do you remember that day? I remember watching the news as they thought it was some kind of crazy accident…until the 2nd plane hit. Then there was no mistaking it. This was a deliberate act of terrorism by those who intended to harm us and cause fear in the hearts of all Americans.
The next week, we were supposed to go to the Windows on the World restaurant at the top of the North Tower for my Grandmother’s 80th birthday. It is difficult to imagine that the restaurant was there one day and gone the next. The restaurant had 72 staff members working that morning. There were also 92 people present for eating, maintenance, and special conferences. Either due to smoke inhalation, fire, falling to their deaths, or the final collapse, none of the people who were trapped on the 106th & 107th floor restaurant survived. In fact, the famous picture of a man in white falling from the North Tower is thought to be a chef or waiter jumping to escape the intense heat from the flames.
I hate to admit that I really don’t think about 9/11 very often. And I am sorry to say I rarely think about those employees until the 9/11 memorial comes around each year. The thing about life, though, is that most of us move on. It isn’t anything evil or inappropriate; we just get busy. Life demands so much from us these days that taking time to reflect is a luxury most of us don’t have. But it is so important that we pause and remember. We must pause to remember the victims of 9/11 and we must pause to remember the sacrifices of policemen, fire fighters, and so many who gave their lives trying to save others that day.
As Christians, we must take time to pause and reflect on the sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior. Of course, we take time each Sunday to eat and drink crackers and juice, but do we really reflect in our hearts on the pain and anguish that Jesus experienced on that cross? What was it like to take on the burden of sin for us? I can’t imagine what it was like for that young man who had to make the decision to jump from a burning building, but the bible gives me some insight into the pain Jesus experienced as He made the decision to go to the cross: the blood in His sweat, His prayers, His pain, His obedience.
So let’s be sure to remember the victims of 9/11. And if you are a Christian, every day is a good day to remember what Christ has done for you. I hope you can make it out to worship with His saints this Sunday and join in remembering His death, burial, and resurrection. And if you are not a Christian and you want to learn more about what Christ’s sacrifice means for you, please get in touch and let’s study together what an amazing gift He has given us!
