Tuesday, September 11, will continue to shock us as long as we are in this world. The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 is unforgettable, but it was at least aimed against military targets. The attacks against the two World Trade Center towers in New York have no parallel in the history of the United States. Although our limited understanding leaves us without answers to many questions, let us not forget, “The most high God ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:25). We take to ourselves the Words of our Lord, “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter” (John 13:7). This does not make God the Author of these treacherous acts, but it does assure us that “God is still on His throne,” and He permits wicked men to act according to their own will. Perhaps the deepest tragedy to us is that according to their religious beliefs these men believed “they were doing God service.”
We pray that this will be a Wake-up call to unsaved loved ones. The security blanket has been shredded. How fragile is the peace of the world! How sudden can cataclysmic events happen that change everything! How uncertain is life! The words of the Lord come to mind, “And there shall be upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity. Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:25, 26). This is only a fore view of far worse things to come. How thankful we are that with quiet confidence we “wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thes 1:10).
Once again, Israel holds center stage in the affairs of the nations. There may be many reasons why this radical movement in Islam hates America, but the chief reason is the befriending of Israel. This is a costly friendship and there will come a time when Israels friends will forsake her. God says, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken” (Zech 14:2). There are at least six clear statements in Scripture that in the day of their deepest trouble, Israel will be abandoned by all the nations of the world. “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Daniel 12:1). But “The Lord shall go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives” (Zech 14:3-4). In the feet of Israels Deliverer are the print of the nails. “And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him” (Zech 12:10), but their mourning in repentance will turn to the joy of forgiveness. “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zech 13:1).
We believe that the Lord could come at any moment. We also believe that we need patience. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while (How short! How short!), and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:35-37).
