^“6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.⁸ Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.⁹ Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.¹¹ Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.¹² There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?¹³ Go to now, ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.¹⁵ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”  James 4:6-14

COMMENTS:  Today 17 years ago (9/11/2001) was the day a few evil inspired men planned and implemented the plan to destroy the twin towers in New York City killing as many as they could.  The plan included destroying the Pentagon building, which was only partly accomplished, but the third plane (Flight 93) intended for the capital building was stopped by the brave passengers who overpowered their captors.  Everyone, especially in the US can remember exactly what they were doing when they heard of the attack in NYC.  I can too. I was at work in the middle of a customer presentation.  I was focused and at first was tempted to delay the distraction, but quickly realized the magnitude of what was unfolding and my work quickly took a back seat.

I can recall many praying and prayed with many of them during those uncertain hours.  I can remember our pastor calling the church to prayer and sanctuary being filled with community coming to pray.  No one knew what would happen next but what was in the back of my mind, and probably with most Christians, was “Are we at the door of the Great Tribulation” and “Is Christ’s return immanent”?   Well, 17 years later those questions are still on my mind and on the minds of many Christians.  But instead of terrorist attacks spurring those thoughts, it is a bolder amoral behavior in society and even in my own community that makes us think His return is immanent.  It is hostility towards Christians and disgust for Christ’s redemptive message that is more evident worldwide today than 17 years ago.  But then again, a genuine deep hunger for the Gospel is become more evident in countries where poverty or persecution is most severe.  Those who hear of Christ’s sacrifice and His love and see themselves as God does but also for who God dreams of them to become.  In large numbers they see what Christ is offering, the empty religion they have been following, and embrace the Gospel, but often at great cost.  As in the first century, to be a Christian comes at great cost in job and security and even in acceptance of family.

Truth is no one but God knows when He will return, but we are 17 years closer today and the level of persecution is pointing to that fact.  The indifference more common in USA and other prosperous free countries is also where the persecution of Christians is mildest, but is steadily increasing.  Could it be persecution makes Christians stronger in their faith and attracts new believers to join them?  That doesn’t make human sense, but history confirms that to be true.  Why?  Because the conduct of Christians who endure persecution confirms the truth of what they believe.  The evil of those motivated to persecute becomes more evident to those who witness it and maybe even to some who are doing the persecution.

God will have His Way either with us or in spite of us.  When we resist or oppose His Will, we put ourselves and those influenced by us at risk.  Well, most don’t think they are opposing God, just continuing down the road of life doing what makes sense to them doing the best they can.  Doing what seems right to them.  When life is good and peaceful, they are content to repeat what seems to work.  When they feel empty, they try to fill that emptiness with things or pleasure or other distractions.   Cost in time and money for such pursuits may not be sinful of themselves but can be satan’s way of distracting us from better pursuits.  Pursuits God designed us to reach for and do.  Pursuits that change us to be more like Him and draw others as well.  Pursuits to eternal life and not to empty dead ends.  By sharing this message, I too am reflecting and recognizing I still fall short of the goal of pursuing eternal goals instead of selfish goals that don’t last.  I still waste time and money on things and activities and pleasures that don’t last but bring pleasure for a time. But as God continues to work on and guide me in the pursuit of His Will, I pray and encourage you too to reflect and seek His loving and guiding Holy Spirit to show you and help you pursue the Will and Plan He has for you on both the big things that require a major change in direction but also the little things we waste time and money on each day we need to let go and use that time and money in better ways.

Today we remember the events of 9/11/01 and those who lost their lives that day.  We also remember those who endure suffering and sickness and loss that still endure that loss over the years to today.  God has protected our country from outside invaders desiring to destroy us, even during times of world wars with powerful enemies approaching.  God’s protection can only continue if we surrender to His Will and follow Him.  History proves that as does scripture.  The consequences of that protective hand being removed during judgment from rebellion against Him also is proven by history and scripture.

God is calling us back to Himself and away from satan’s lures and pleasures and distractions.  He is calling us to turn from sin and to Himself.    He is calling us to repentance.  But He is calling His people, the Christian Church people, first to repentance before calling them to lead others to the cross, to repentance, to redemption, to eternal life.

Take time today to stop and remember, to reflect, but also to review and turn from ourselves and towards Him.    Even the best of us are unrighteous in His eyes, so we all have work to do.  Work of repentance and turning from sinfulness and selfishness – disobedience and towards our Savior and Redeemer.  Towards Christ.   I am doing that and will do so when I finished this post and at times throughout this day.  It is 6AM and still dark but the hope of the sun rising again is about to be revealed once again.  God’s confirming mercy.  

Such reflections draw us to hold our families close and express our love to them.  As we do that, I also encourage you to express gratitude and worship to God for His mercies but also seek His forgiveness and healing for our sins.  Our future is in God’s hands but our choices decide what future we will experience.  Let’s choose wisely. 

I invite you to read 2 Chronicles 5-7.  This is the account of Solomon’s dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem.  Chapter 6 reveals his prayer and Chapter 7 include insight God gave Solomon during that dedication including warnings of consequences of rebelling against God but then the promise if we turn back is given by him:

2 Chronicles 7:14 “14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

                                        Don McDaniel

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