That's a key for us in Australia to understand. 9/11 changed the way we wait in travel, changed the way the West looks at the Arabs of the world... it's massive. It's not only the 2,900 who died in NYC, in DC and in the crash in Pennsylvania. Bali bombings, London trains, Madrid.. the West is different after 9/11.
A couple more things to ponder before I get on to 9/12 (or as we Aussies say 12/9). 2900 people dying is horrible. It was murder. It was not a tragedy. My friend Glenn Harris said, "9-11 wasn't a 'tragedy' and don't call it that. It was a MASSACRE perpetrated with malice aforethought; not by insane madmen, but by devout Muslims who sincerely believed they were advancing Islam and thus helping mankind. This is what their book teaches, and it is the end result of any system that teaches that 'the end justifies the means.' Jesus told us to persuade. Mohammed told them to wage war."
Final thought: 2900 people dying and the resultant shame, wars, discomfort, mistrust, etc... that's all bad. Very bad. And watching the reading of the names at the World Trade Center late last night was compelling and brought a tear to my eyes. Yesterday I preached at a church in Sydney about the death of Jesus. I know, only one fellow. And so long ago. Should it still have impact?
I say wholeheartedly, yes!
The apostle Paul said so. Here in full is a quote from Paul's letter to the Roman believers, recorded in chapter 5.
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned — for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus the Messiah, abound to the many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.
For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Messiah Jesus. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men." (verses 8-18)
Jesus' death brings all of God's judgment into Himself.
Jesus' death accomplished the justification of all people, including you and me.
And all the Muslims and Jews and Buddhists and everyone...whoever will receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The salvation of God is available for all people. How great is our God!!!
Receive Jesus as your Lord.
Receive eternal life.
Receive forgiveness of your sins.
You will be born again.
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
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