Monday, September 12, 2011

Remebering 9/11

The morning of September 11, 2001 started like any normal Tuesday morning.  I got ready for work early, because it was my day to pray at the 46th and Farnam abortion clinic with the sidewalk counselor.  On the way I would normally listen to KGBI which had Christian music playing in the morning.  It would help me focus on the task at hand which was praying for the women who would make the decision to abort their child, hoping and praying that my presence would help persuade them to change their mind.  As I got closer to the clinic, for some reason I changed the station to ESPN radio.  That wasn’t something that I normally do, but for some reason I did on that morning.  The hour proceeded like normal, with Claire Hartford talking to the girls as they went in, while I stood with my prolife sign and prayed.  After the hour was up, I got in my car and headed off to work.  I remember hearing the ESPN announcers when I turned the car off, but when the radio came on, it was ABC news.  My initial thought was that someone had broken into my car and switched stations on me.  Realizing that the car was locked and I never saw anyone near my car during the hour, I listened closer to hear what was going on.  By this time, the first tower had been struck, but nothing else had happened.  Of course we all know what happened from that point on, but I was driving to work, and during that time I was horrified by what I heard was happening. 

This morning, September 11, 2011, I decided to get up early before church and watch the news coverage of events as they happened.  As the bell would sound its toll when the time came for the remembrance, all the memories and emotions came flooding back as if it was happening all over again.  As I was watching, our National Anthem was played, as well as “God Bless America”, all the traditional songs.  There was a song that I heard just once today, but I kept playing it over and over again in my mind.  It was the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and it was played at the Pentagon remembrance.  Now, I’ve heard that song countless times before, but this morning, I HEARD it.  This is my interpretation of what I heard. 

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on.”

When I read this verse, I realize that God is setting apart those who are for Him, and those who are against Him.  When you trample grapes, you are separating the pulp from the juice.  The juice is the best part, and God is working in people’s hearts to separate the people who are with Him from those who are against Him.  If you are against Him, then His swift sword will be your fate, and you won’t survive because His sword cut right through man.  This is the truth of the Gospel, and it is as relevant today as it ever has been. 

“I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps; they have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps, His day is marching on.”

When I read this verse, I can see families setting around the dinner table reading stories from Scripture.  Dad would read daily devotions with his family after dinner was over before mom would have the kids help her clean up the dishes from the day.  The family would read the Bible and it would be passed on from generation to generation.  The faith of fathers would be passed down, and would keep going through many generations.

“He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant my feet Our God is marching on.”

The fight against the enemies of the United States will continue on.  The fight against Satan is a battle that we as Christians are called to never stop fighting as well.  We cannot retreat from the call that God has given all Believers.  To be on our guard and to rescue people from the darkness of Satan is what we are called to do.  The battle is never fun, but we have the joy of the Lord in our lives knowing that what we do for the Kingdom is of great importance.  The day of salvation for people is today, and we as the church of God need to be marching on our knees towards His Kingdom.

“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, while God is marching on.”

Christ came to this earth over 2000 years ago, and He gave up His life willingly so that all humanity would have the opportunity to be spared eternal separation from God.  By accepting His death and resurrection as the payment for all of our sins, we will be transformed into new men and women that will live forever in a new Heaven and a new Earth.  God is on the move for hearts of men and women who are willing to die if need be to see people come to Christ.  In countries across the globe, people are being martyred for their faith, willing to die so that the truth of the Gospel will continue to move forward from generation to generation.

“Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.”


In today’s world of moral relativism, where people believe that morality is subject to your point of view, God’s truth is still relative today.  You can choose to not believe His truth, but in the end, THE Truth will prevail.  God’s truth will trump all others.  Glory Hallelujah!