A message on the anniversary of 9-11

[Sermon given by Lou Hodapp at the Missouri Veteran's Home on 9-11-2011] 

We come together on this rather solemn day of remembrance of the tragedy of 9-11. What a horrible, evil thing that event was!

The questions in some people’s minds were: How could a good God allow such evil? And why do bad things happen to good people? Godly people down through the ages have wrestled with these questions. I don’t profess to completely understand God’s plans but I do know this: God IS in control!

The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible – it was written even before Moses wrote about the creation and the flood of Noah. Job was a man who  really was involved with the two questions mentioned: Why have evil at all, God? And why does evil strike good people, God?

Job was a person who God allowed to lose all his children and all his material wealth.

I call the book of Job the first and greatest debate.

Job had 4 friends who debated with him over evil and suffering. Job refused to blame God and said that God has a good purpose even though Job couldn’t figure it out. His friends blamed a punishing God and Job himself for the evil circumstances.

One reason the problem of evil has persisted as an argument against God may be that we struggle so hard to identify what eventual good could possibly justify the magnitude of evil’s horrible inpact.

We all have freedom to choose good or evil. Those Muslim pilots who flew those planes into the towers had the free will to do it. Free will serves a purpose in God’s plan for humanity.

Twentieth century history sadly reveals how difficult it is to expose humanity’s fatal leaning toward evil. More than a hundred million people were brutally murdered in that one century alone at the hands of despots who built their power over people.

No doubt Job found himself unable to imagine any good that could possibly outweigh his suffering and loss. Rebellion against God takes many forms. It may be a s subtle as simply ignoring God or as blatant as lashing out violently to harm others. But without the freedom to exercise this choice, humanity would be little more than robots.

In the last chapter of Job, after all the Great Debate, Job reached a conclusion he could live with.

Job replied to God, “I know that you can do anything and that no one can stop you. You ask who it is who has so foolishly denied your plan for good. It is I. I was talking about things I knew nothing about and did not understand things far too wonderful for me.”

In effect Job said, “I can never totally understand you, God. But I trust you and your plan for humanity and it is a place of peace and praise. I will love you and trust you to see me through what I do not understand.”

I’m sure we have all looked at the events of 9-11 and tried to see where God fit in. Just remember this – God is in charge of EVERYTHING.

And His whole purpose is to bring people to the understanding of their weakness of mind and inability to live life by their own power and strength.

In the days immediately following 9-11, the churches were filled with praying people. But God also wants us to pray on the good days, not just when we think we need God. What I’ve learned in 80 years is that real confidence in prayer isn’t found by projecting my desires on God on my bad days. Sure, I still do it – I still call on God to get me out of bad situations. But confidence is not built by how these bad situations turn out. Confidence is built by loving prayer and communication on the good days. Confidence is built when things are going right for us on the good days and we can sit restfully down and be thankful for the overall pattern of our life in Christ. We grow to understand that everything in our Christian life is used by God as a means of His overall WILL toward growth in His Family. Sometimes I have been grateful for His “yes.” Sometimes I’ve seen the wisdom of a “no”. Sometimes I’ve even wondered but learned to enjoy God in the process of waiting for His answer. Don’t neglect prayer on your good days. After all, there is no question of “yes”, “no”, or “wait” when you are cultivating a love relationship with God in Christ. Prayer on good days makes prayer of need on bad days easier to deal with and, in the long run, more of a love relationship.

Let me inject a little humor on this solemn day. A man was out hiking on a mountain trail. He got careless and slipped over the edge. As he hung by his fingertips on the precipice, he called out, “Is anyone up there that can help me?” He heard a deep voice say, “I am God. I can help you. Just let go and I will sweep you down to the ground on angel’s wings and prevent you from dashing your head on the rocks.” There was a long pause of silence. Then the man said, “Is there anyone else up there?”

Friends, God won’t test you like that to save you.

At Grace Church, our pastor has spent the whole summer basically on one topic – God loves you – just the way you are. But He wants you to be MORE than human. He wants you to come into His divine Family. You don’t have to and in fact you can’t earn your way to becoming a son or daughter of God. God has made it very simple – it is by faith alone. By calling out to God for a Savior from your sins, Jesus Christ’s death substitutes for your sin penalty. By agreeing as best you are able, to make Jesus the Lord of your life, you are saved.

Join me in your heart with this prayer: Heavenly Father – I really can’t figure out everything about you. As my Creator, you are just too big and all-knowing. But this I do know: You have proven yourself lovable to me and I want to be in your Family. I do accept Jesus as my Savior and will follow Him as Lord of my life as best I can. Thank you, Father, thank you, Jesus. You have promised in your Word to see me through good and bad circumstances – that you will never let me go. I stand on your promise. I have peace now. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Let’s finish with a specific prayer about 9-11. This is the prayer of Pope Benedict when he visited ground zero in April 2008.

O God of love, compassion and healing, we ask you in your goodness to give eternal peace to all who died there on 9-11 – the heroic first responders, the fire fighters, police officers, emergency service workers, along with all the innocent men and women who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work brought them there.

We ask you in your compassion to bring healing to those who, because of their presence there that day, suffer from injuries and illness.

Heal too the pain of still grieving families and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy. Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well of those who suffered death, injury and loss the same day at the Pentagon and in the fields of Pennsylvania.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world. Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred. Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost there may not have been lost in vain.

Give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations. God bless America.

Amen.

Thank you for having me.