At 8:45 Tuesday morning, September 11, the first of two commercial airliners crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. An hour later, another plane slammed into the Pentagon building in our nation's capital. As news stories filtered in, other reports of downed and missing planes added to the confusion and fear. America and the world watched in horror as the most serious attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor unfolded before our eyes.

Across the country airport terminals shut down. World markets halted trading. The White House, Pentagon and all other government buildings in Washington, DC were evacuated. The most powerful and secure nation in the world was hit...wounded...and in absolute shock.

The psychological and emotional terror wrought by such an event will change America's history forever. As our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families, we also mourn the loss of the security and peace we have always felt living in this great country. If our grandest office buildings are not safe, if our nation's capital is open to attack, and if our Armed Forces can do nothing to protect us, where can we turn? How can we feel secure?

Where is Your Security?

In the Bible, God repeatedly warns His people NOT to put their security in their armies, their governments or their riches, for none of these will provide enough protection when true adversity hits.

I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me. (Jeremiah 22:21)

Woe to those...who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen... (Isaiah 31:1)

God never promised us freedom from adversity, for the tragedies and horrors of this world will always occur. There must be a higher place where we put our trust and find our security. That place is in God, the God of the Bible.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

Trouble is Guaranteed

Actually, God guarantees us trouble in this world. The point is, He is ABOVE this world. He lives OUTSIDE of it. That is the fact we put our trust in, and set our focus upon...not on the transient things of earth. Jesus told His closest followers: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

From the dawn of time 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—this hate, envy, selfishness and murder—is called sin. The events we've witnessed recently are the results of sin taken to its ultimate extreme. But this same sin exists in all of us, and God sees no degrees, for...

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

The Bible predicts some horrific events which will foreshadow and culminate toward the end of civilization. It also predicts Jesus' return to rescue those who profess their faith in Him. Not only does Jesus provide us a supernatural sense of peace during our years here on earth, but He guarantees us eternal life with Him in heaven when our time is over.

Now is the Time

For whatever reason you might have put God off all these years, now is the time to come to Him. Governments are not in control of this world. Armies are not in control. The largest corporations and richest financial institutions are not in control. God is, and it's time you acknowledge that fact. Your pride in yourself, your fear of what others will think, your feelings about Christians...put them all in the back of your mind for a minute. Sit down in a quiet place and ask God if He is real...and to show Himself.

Tell Him you've fallen short in your life, and ask His forgiveness. He freely offers to give it based on what His Son, Jesus, accomplished on your behalf on the cross. Accept Jesus as your Savior, the only One who can forgive your sins and bring you to God.

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)

You can confirm your decision through a prayer like this:

Oh God, at times like this, the world is such an awful place to live. I don't understand why it is so, but I know You do. I want to put my trust in You to get me through this life and to let me enter heaven once this life is over. Please care for the families and friends of all those who died in this tragedy. Lord, we have nowhere else to turn but to You. Forgive MY sin God, and make me clean. Bring me to Yourself through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus, whom I now believe died on my behalf. What a sacrifice! Amen.

Jesus said:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)

Copyright (c) 2001 American Tract Society. All rights reserved. Used by permission.