9/11 will be
forgotten or experienced
sermon by
Manfred Schreyer
>>
Rev 21:1-8 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. :2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. :4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." :5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." :6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. :7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. :8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
This week felt probably for you like a re-run movie of the events on 9-11
In a way we were haunted by the terrible images of that day.
For some it has left a deep impact of their life and for some it was a tragedy in this life.
For some the question of "Why" still haunts them. For others like our denomination it is unable to get a handle on the situation on how to deal with the terrorist.
I receive letters after letters how to deal with the Iraq situation, I read uncountable articles about the political and economic situation in Iraq but I have read no statement how to deal with the perpetrators of the tragedy that happened in NY.
We as Brethren are often not able to state our convictions when it comes to issues about us, the people of the US.
Tragedies have been part of the human life forever. Early on humankind had to deal with violent natural disasters, horrendous wars and finally we deal with very sophisticated disaster like the Titanic, the space shuttle disaster, the world trade center.
Each time such disaster occurs people reflect upon themselves and their lives and they ask the question: "WHY?" "Why did this happen? Why does God allow this to happen? Why did this happen to me or to one of the people I care for"
Before I answer these question, I want you to know that God is in total control of everything. . .the entire universe. HE alone is the creator.
The actions on this earth are very much up to us. Our thinking, our decision/choices, our actions, everything. In fact we are in total control. We are created in the image of God and we have great power here on earth.
In a way our life can be compared with a ride on the Titanic. We sail off into a wonderful life, we decide where we want to go, what deck we want to play on, when we want to dance, how we want to dress, we are separate by class (lower class below, higher class above. We spend our money on things that only matter for a brief moment, we gamble in situations in life to get a thrill, we find partnerships and arrange cabins, we hoard our valuables if any and show them off to others to proclaim our achievements.
We ride this life "our Titanic" as if it could not sink. We treat others as if the ride would go on forever. The last things on our minds are the life boats that will carry us securely to the shores of safely.
We forget that "the Titanic" is not secure that it is navigated by human beings, we forget that it is built and designed by human beings, we forget that our ride relies on the frail thoughts of human kind.
You see it is not only you you depend upon. In your life you depend mostly on others.
For long time in my life I thought that if I master life well, if I just do the right thing, if I live right, treat others right, go to the right places, avoid dark moments, etc. that I will do OK in life.
But over time I came to the clear understanding that my own action in the realm of wordily living amounts to very little. I can do good, I can do better, I work hard, I can raise my family right, I can save my money, I can responsibly plan . . . the fact is there are others who destroy you ambitions in life. Others in this life have the greatest impact in your life.
That is the reason why Jesus emphasizes over and over again: Love your neighbor as yourself . . .
I heard the chaplain of the police department from Lexington, KY speak the other day at a worship service. He arrived in NYC a few days after the disaster. The one common question everyone always asked was; Where were you when the disaster happened?
As he was at a store and he asked a lady who was standing right beside him same question during a brief conversation. And she replied: "I was on the 38th floor." The chaplain asked in a casual voice: "What building?" Her reply was sober: In the WTC. We ate grand muffins, two of her colleagues brought the muffins in and they were ready to sit down like every morning to enjoy the breath of morning in NYC.
Then the building started to rumble, she decided to run to the stairways to the left and the two colleagues decided to run to the stairways to the right.
She never saw them again and until today they never found any remains.
They died not because of their choice, but because to the choice of terrorists who follow a god that asks them to kill to fulfill the kingdom of Allah. They were promised after their own death 77 virgins in the Garden of Eden and eternal life, because they gave themselves.
To what point in our human civilization have we come?
I am thinking of the whistles who still left the sound of the sharp electronic whistling sound for hours and hours. Firemen in NYC had an electronic whistle which starts to whistle once the fireman has not moved for 30 seconds.
There were many whistles to be heard for the next few days.
All because of the choices others made. All because of choices of individuals who do not like us.
Where do these thoughts come from? Why do people make such violent choices?
(1) The bible tells us that God is good. That we are created by him and that we are the essence of good.
(2) The bible tells us that we sinned by our free will and that sin sits deep within us. Our mind is corrupted by the sins we have been taught and we knowingly or unknowingly live with.
(3) The bible tells us that we can make the right choices by following and seeking the will of God, but that we must give our old self up and be willing to follow God.
(4) The bible tells us that when we believe that God forgives us by the sign of giving His only son for us that we are forgiven and that we will have eternal life.
Even though we live a life on a "Titanic" where the devil rules. There is hope and there is a better tomorrow.
(1) You can make changes in your life to be a better person toward others.
(2) No matter what will happen God is in charge of everything and if you believe you will see God in His glory and He will wipe your tears always.
What it boils down to is this image the chaplain from Lexington gave us; Which stairway will you use to reach life?
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