ATTACK ON AMERICA

The atrocity witnessed on September 11 has stunned and angered our whole nation. For over a decade we have largely, as George Will put it, taken a vacation from history. In one morning, the attention of our nation has been galvanized.

These are certainly perilous times! We live in an evil world filled with evil people who design evil schemes and carry them out in evil ways. As we pray for our nation's leaders and for one another (I Tim. 2:1,2), we trust that you are drawing closer to our wonderful Lord and Savior and that His Word is becoming more and more important to you.

In times like these it is a genuine blessing to know the Word rightly divided. We know that God has not promised us freedom from the adversities, tragedies or horrors of this world. Rom. 8:18-25 is a passage we should keep "hid in our hearts" in these days.

WHERE WAS GOD?

The question naturally arises, "Where was God in all this?" The answer is clear: just where He has always been--here with the answer!

God has granted men and women the freedom to make their own choices, and, sadly, that freedom has resulted in countless horrors over the centuries. This evil in people--the hate, envy, selfishness, murder--is called sin. The events we've witnessed recently are the results of sin taken to its ultimate extreme. But I am reminded that the same sin exists in all of us!

How wonderful to know the grace of God: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "God our Savior" has provided the answer for sin for all those who trust Him. What a comfort to be able to rest in His love and grace to us in Christ Jesus!!

Dear friend, you can know where you will spend eternity. You can know for sure that all your sins are forgiven and that you have eternal life as a present possession. "The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." This gift of life is received simply by faith--your faith resting exclusively in God's Son and His finished, accomplished work on your behalf. If you have not personally made the choice to rely exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, do so today-without delay! If you have questions, feel free to contact us either by email or phone. This is an issue you need settled today!

WHAT TO DO?

As America slowly gets back to work, it is obvious that a sea change has occurred in our national psyche. September 11 has taken its place next to December 7 as a date to be remembered in infamy.

Frankly, these are days of almost unprecedented opportunity to share the gospel of grace. The Lord Jesus Christ is well acquainted with sorrow and grief (Isa. 53:3; John 11:35). He understands pain and suffering, what it is like to be an innocent victim of brutal and evil attacks of wicked people. We have the opportunity to share His message with people in deep need of comfort and hope.

How do we do this? How can we possible be up to such a task? II Cor. 1:3,4 is clear: Our ability to comfort others during "any trouble" comes directly from "the God of all comfort." He first comforts us "in all our tribulation." This first-hand experience of receiving comfort from God through His rightly divided Word makes us "able to comfort them which are in any trouble." We comfort others "by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

We should ask God to help us understand His Word during difficult times so that not only can we be comforted but also we can comfort others in their difficulties.

Our message is clear: God loves us and has demonstrated His mercy by supplying the gift of life through Jesus Christ. He is the answer to all our questions and the comfort for all our needs.

May God grant that we not only are comforted by His grace in these days, but that we may also be a comfort to others. Using every opportunity to share the gospel with people--yea a country--in deep need of comfort and hope is our great privilege!