Proverbs 14: 34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.”
September 11, 2001, will not soon be forgotten by those Americans with an ounce of patriotism left in them. It is a day branded into our national consciousness by the horrendous events, and vivid scenes of destruction and chaos that leapt from our TV screens on that day. The horrifying tragedies of that attack upon our nation, filled our hearts with indignation, disgust, and anger. The very thought that such an unprovoked attack upon American soil against innocent civilians placed our country in somewhat of a national haze. We questioned, “How could anyone perpetrate such senseless acts of violence and devastation?”
The mixed bag of feelings and emotions that our nation experienced were to be expected. After all, how does one make sense of such calloused and cold acts of aggression against innocent people? How does one’s mind comprehend the magnitude of the meaningless snuffing out of thousands of lives? Without a doubt, the events of 9/11 will continue to plague America’s memory for years to come.
A few weeks after the events of September 11, 2001, there seemed to be a heightened awareness of the need for prayer, and the need to seek God. Unfortunately, that awareness began to fade much too soon. It wasn’t long before everything was business-as-usual in the country. The nation’s sense of neediness and dependency before God was all but forgotten within a couple of months.
You may find my next thought troubling. However, I feel that what I’m about to say is 100% valid. May I suggest to you that America must bear part of the responsibility for the tragedy that overtook our country 12 years ago? I believe with all my heart that the events of 9/11/2001, and the events that have followed since then, are nothing less than God’s judgment upon this nation. Years before commercial airliners were forced to fly kamikaze-style into the towers of the World Trade Center, preachers all over America, had stood and faithfully proclaimed the depravity of our country, and it’s departure from God, warning our nation of impending judgment, and calling her to return to God. Yet those warnings went unheeded. Many, myself included, made the statement that, if God didn’t judge America for her sinfulness and her almost total disregard for God, He would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for their destruction. The fact is folks, God will never have to apologize to anyone, for He always judges sin. God is a just Judge.
I believe that not only was it necessary for America to respond and retaliate against our attackers after September 11, 2001, but it was above all, imperative that America humbly repent before God. In all honesty, America is still in need of repentance. America must return to God if she is to remain a free country. America’s only hope is God.
