September 11, 2001

by David A. DePra

     It is easy to take the United States of America for granted. This

is especially so if you have not lived through the depression of

the 1930's, or the second world war. But the United States is, in

fact, unique in the history of mankind.

     That may sound like an exaggeration. But it is not. There has

never, in the recorded history of mankind, been a country which

has the civil and religious freedoms that we have today. Things

that we take for granted -- no -- things that we DEMAND -- like the

right to free speech, freedom to bear arms, freedom to choose our

own leaders -- these have never been liberties which the common

man has enjoyed. Not until the United States came to be only

two hundred years ago.

     With freedom comes risks. The same right which makes it

possible to write The Good News makes it possible to produce a

newsletter promoting hate. The same right which makes it possible

to report the news on television and the newspaper, makes it

possible to publicly expose the sins of our leaders. The same

right to worship God through Jesus Christ in this country, affords

those who reject Christ the right to try to promote their agenda.

     Note something here: The "right" to do something doesn't

make it RIGHT! Nope. Freedom does not insure that what I do is

right. It simply gives me the right to do it, or to say it. Thus, we

see that unless a people become moral, freedom can become a

license to do wrong. For we Christians, we know of no other way

to solve this problem than to help people find Jesus Christ.

     What happened on September 11, 2001 was not the act of an

angry God upon innocent people. No. Evil people did this. Men

with little regard for human life, or even their own lives. And they

did it thinking that they were serving their god -- or so they say.

But they were not serving the living God of heaven. They were

following some other god -- one of their own invention.

     I do not believe that God has forsaken this country. I don't

believe this -- despite the fact that we have indeed, in a general

sense -- turned away from Him. There are still many people in

this land -- who we never hear about in the liberal media -- who are

God's people. And who are praying and seeking the face of God

on behalf of this country in our time of need.

     If you read the Bible, you see that it is not the unbeliever

that God is looking at during times of crisis such as these. It is

those who are called by HIS NAME. God says, "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 I

will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their

land." (II Chr. 7:14) Christians are those who are called by God's

name -- the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.   That's YOU and ME.

     This tells us that, as those who are called by HIS name, we

Christians have a responsibility.   WE -- personally and individually

-- must humble ourselves, seek God, and turn from sin. Not our

neighbor.   US.   And if we do this, September 11, 2001 will be,

despite the terrible tragedy, a date that marked -- not the END of

something -- but a new beginning among God's own people. *