Bluest blue
It’s a sunny peaceful Tuesday morning a day like all the rest. The sky was clear and blue, so clear as if the sky were like the crystal clear waters of the Arctic. At this time people were getting out of their warm beds, taking their morning showers and getting ready for the day. The East Coast was ready for just another day or was it?
The bench
A man was eating a bagel with cream cheese by the east river on Wall Street while enjoying the river view, and a lady sat by him reading her morning paper. Two New Yorkers gearing up for another day of work as the hustle and bustle of the city grew. A strange thing occurred at that moment as confetti fell from the sky. The two individuals looked at one another perplexed; was a parade going on no one knew about?
The two individuals shrugged their shoulders as they parted ways from that bench not giving it another thought. Confused the man made his way into his place of business located on the 10th floor. The morning went on as normal until 9:02 am. A frightened coworker comes bursting through the doors yelling “a plane crashed into the Twin Towers!”. She was hysterical and you can see the fear in her eyes as her coworkers helped to calm her down. The CEO made an announcement stating the TV in the board room would be on for all who are interested in knowing what’s happening.
As you can imagine all channels were reporting on an event which changed life as we knew it not only for the people of New York only but also for all people in the world. The day is called September 11, 2001.
As The World Looked On
None could believe it how can a plane crash into such a large building it had to be a horrible accident right? At 9:03 am a second plane United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into floors 75–85 of the WTC’s South Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds inside the building. It’s now crystal clear this is no mistake this is a horrific event taking place before our eyes. As the world watched, eyes glued to their screens, and people watching from afar it was just unimaginable.
Those people who entered into the Twin Towers on 9/11 never thought it would be their last day to live. Neither did those men, women and children as they boarded those 4 aeroplanes. It was a tragedy of enormous proportions, a day in which the world will never forget; a day which is remembered each year since those attacks and how is it that we still go about living life as if we will never die?
The remembrance of that day is seared into my mind, the smell of the smoke, the sounds of sirens, the chaos and commotion in the streets of Manhattan. Life truly is fleeting.
Psalms 103:15 “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.”
Sobering Messages
Many loved ones were lost in those tragic moments, they were their one moment hugging their loved ones and gone the next. How fragile is the life of man, the Bible says that our life appears for a moment and then vanishes away.
James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Please consider these actual last messages from those who perished in those attacks on 9/11. Think hard on this because you don’t know when you’re last day on this earth will be. The following are messages from victims of these attacks.
Melissa C. Doi was a graduate of Northwestern University, with hopes of one day becoming a ballerina. She worked as a manager at a financial company. The terrified young woman called 911 from the 83rd floor of Tower 2.
MD: It’s very hot, I see…I don’t see, I don’t see any air anymore!
911: Okay…
MD: All I see is smoke.
911: Okay dear, I’m so sorry, hold on for a sec, stay calm with me, stay calm, listen, listen, the call is in, I’m documenting, hold on one second please…
MD: I’m going to die, aren’t I?
911: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, say your, ma’am, say your prayers.
MD: I’m going to die.
911: You gotta think positive, because you gotta help each other get off the floor.
MD: I’m going to die.
911: Now look, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.
MD: Please God…
Brian David Sweeney a passenger on Flight 175. He left a voicemail for his wife Julie that day. In the message, he can be heard telling his wife that he loved her and to “go have good times.”
Jules, this is Brian. Listen, I’m on an airplane that’s been hijacked. If things don’t go well, and it’s not looking good, I just want you to know that I absolutely love you. I want you to do good, go have good times same to my parents and everybody. I just totally love you… and I’ll see you when you get there. Bye babe. I hope I call you. — Brian David Sweeney
How heart-wrenching are these messages can you imagine being in such a situation knowing that you’ll never see the faces of your loved ones again?
The Bad News
My friend life is fleeting, you hear one moment and gone the next. Will you continue to live life as if you’ll never face death? Will you continue to gambling with your soul. Do you know where you’ll spend the rest of eternity once you die? If you’re not saved the bible gives us a clear understanding of what the future holds for those who are not saved.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
God tells us in His word the Bible that we all have sinned, we’ve all have lied before, or lusted after another person, been angry at someone. We’re born in sin and have committed sin. We can look at God’s law and know for certain that none of us are perfect. Let’s look at God’s law.
God’s Law (Ten Commandments)
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
- Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
As you can see we fall short on all of these if you never loved God fully every moment of your waking day that’s a sin. If you’ve used God’s name in vain that’s a sin, if we have spoken a lie against someone that’s a sin.
You may be thinking I never killed someone?! Do you know what the Lord Jesus said concerning this He said:
Matthew 5:21, 22 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Just being angry at someone is a sin and I’m certain that if you’ll think hard you’ll remember being upset at someone before. Because we are sinners we are not capable of standing before God. We are in desperate need of a Saviour and God in His loving tenderness did just that.
The Gospel (The Good News)
God loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. He was crucified on the cross and cried out “it is finished” meaning He paid the penalty for our sins taking the wrath of God upon Himself.
And physically rose from the dead three days later proving His sacrifice was acceptable to God the Father. Jesus Christ ascended up into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father triumphant over death. And anyone who places their trust in the ransom sacrifice He provided will be granted everlasting life, a home in heaven. We can be saved from death and hell once we place our faith in Christ alone.
Therefore, if you want to receive the free gift of life thereby removing the wrath of God upon you, then you must receive Him and His sacrifice by faith. If you want forgiveness for your sins against God, you must ask for forgiveness of your sins with a truly repentant heart and He will grant you everlasting life.
God’s Promise of the Free Gift of Eternal Life
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Ephesians 2:8, 9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
As Christians, we pray that those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, were saved, we hope they knew the LORD GOD that they knew while they were on their way to death would pass unto life eternal, having perfect peace with God. The sobering thought is that while we pray for them if they never placed their faith in Jesus Christ then they perished and are lost forever in hell. It’s not easy to say but it’s the truth. You still have a chance to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, do it today and live!!!
Whatsoever Things Are True 