The bombs in London made me think back to our own 9-11 experience.
Building the World Trade Center twin towers began in the 1960’s.
Some have said it was a ‘Rockefeller’ idea since David was
president of Chase Manhattan bank and his brother Nelson was New
York State governor at the time. Even though I share the same last
name I’m glad I had no part in this decision. However, since I
lived on Long Island I visited New York City many times. I would
say I had been in the World Trade Center a dozen or more times
since the early 70’s when it opened. My thoughts about it were
always the same. It was an offense to God.
I’m not defending Allah. I’m simply voicing an emotion: something
inside me revolted against the human economic monuments called the
twin WTC towers.
It was a violation of at least the first two commandments: You
shall have no other gods before me, and you shall not make unto
yourself any graven image. “The twin towers of the World Trade
Center were more than just buildings. They were proof of New
York’s belief in itself.”
(http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0903568.html) Quotes such
as this were common. These towers also made me think of the first
construction project ever recorded: the Tower of Babel. In Genesis
11:4 we read that the builders said “Come, let us build ourselves a
city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make
a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the
whole earth”. Even non-bible scholars know what happened. God
didn’t like it so they (notice the use of a trinitarian plural in
verse 7) confused their languages and scattered them over the face
of the earth.
The most practiced world-view by United States citizens by the
1970’s was no longer biblical Christianity but secular humanism.
The World – Trade – Center embodied both humanism – a collective
human false-wisdom without God, and secularism – an emphasis on
monetary wealth and everything it can buy. The years and then
decades went by. I always wondered if God wouldn’t intervene to
bring the edifice down before it’s normal building “lifespan”.
But God is patient. He often gives warnings as well as time.
God permitted a truck-bomb explosion to cause the destruction of
the towers. It was unsuccessful in bringing the towers down. The
light reality of what happened masked the awful reality of the
bomber’s intentions. Most Americans quickly forgot about it and
thus it didn’t bring about the needed repentance.
Then came September 11th, 2001. The first two targets, the towers,
were destroyed. The third was a symbol of America’s military
might, the pentagon. I don’t know what the fourth target would
have been. I do believe many within the United States had begun to
repent by this time. I believe God was hearing true prayers for
perhaps the first time coming from many.
Passengers on board the fourth hijacked aircraft had heard about
the fate of the other three airplanes via their cell phones. One
Christian young man, Todd Beamer, led other able-bodied passengers
in a bold plan. He ended by reciting the Lord’s prayer. “May your
will be done on earth as it is in heaven” were part of that prayer.
Afterward his last words heard over the cell phone were “Let’s
roll.” It’s as if God said “yes, I hear the prayers of many.
Three planes and three targets is enough for now. Perhaps the
United States will repent.” The fourth plane fell taking all souls
aboard with it but no fourth hijacker target fell that day. The
hijackers were not granted complete success.
The message to the organization(s) sponsoring the hijackers was one
of sovereignty. Judah had been overthrown. Jerusalem, including
the great temple, had been defeated by the army of Nebuchadnezzar.
This wasn’t because their god(s) were more powerful than Judah’s,
but rather because of Judah’s disobedience. This message was so
important that God deals directly with King Nebuchadnezzar as well
as three successors. Daniel records the events. Chapter 5 verse
21 sums up Daniel’s message well. King Nebuchadnezzar lived as an
animal “until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign
over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes”.
There is a war going on. The hijackers were willing to die for a
cause but so were those passengers who overtook the hijackers.
Undoubtedly, there were souls on board not willing to die but who
were casualties nonetheless in this war. Christ calls all who want
to respond to him to count the true cost “take up your cross daily
and follow me.” For at least the remaining year of 2001 many
Christians became more serious about their faith. They began
*practicing* Christianity instead of just accepting the label. I
pray and act so that more repentance and obedience may come but
without the hard lesson of 9-11. Will you join me?