Love your enemies…

Matthew 5:44

Never Forget…

I’ve heard and read those words so many times since 911. It seems to be the battle cry for our country, and motivation for revenge and protection. Nearly 3,000 people died, and nearly 6,000 people were injured. Four planes were used as weapons against the unknown and never forgotten people who personally experienced such a horrific attack on American soil.

BUT WAIT….do we have it all wrong?

September 20, 2001, then-President George Bush said these words in a speech to the joint members of Congress and the nation: “Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”

Grief, anger, resolution. I felt all of those feelings. I’m sure many of you did as well.

For years I’ve tried to reconcile my feelings about 911 with Scripture. Today, I want to share with you a couple of ideas.

 

Love your enemies

There is no way around this verse. Indeed, the terrorists were our enemies. But how can we love them? How can a WWII veteran love the Germans or Japanese? What does a Vietnam veteran do to love the Viet Cong? It’s a piercing question with eternal ramifications. I believe it is only by a supernatural event in a person’s life that he/she can display that kind of love. When a person comes to faith in Jesus, that person’s whole paradigm changes. All the old things pass away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What’s the purpose of loving our enemies? Jesus addresses this earlier in this special message to the people when He says, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16). That’s the key. It is so they will come to faith in Jesus.

Never forget…

Terrorists died on 911 without knowing Jesus. While that may seem like justice, it has to bother a Christ-follower in the depths of his heart. We should not be so calloused as to think that people die without that significant and eternal life-change only given by Jesus. 

Do I like what the terrorists did? Not at all. It made me very upset. But years later, I can’t help but think if they knew Jesus, the nearly 3,000 people who died that day would have lived a normal day.

 

Love your neighbors

Jesus also says to love your neighbors in Mark 12:31. This, too, has caused me to reflect on those who desperately tried to escape the burning twin towers and the many who jumped to their death. How many of those who died that day came to faith in Jesus at some point in their lives? I have no idea, but I know that it is our responsibility to tell others about the marvelous story of Jesus and how He came to be our Savior. 

I wonder about the souls of those who didn’t know Jesus. Of course, it’s too late now to do anything about it, but we can do something about those in our communities now. We can tell others the most remarkable story ever told, and it’s about Jesus and His irreversible love for the world.

Maybe those who lost their lives without Jesus on 911 should haunt us just a little. Perhaps we did get it wrong. As a Christ-follower, we are driven by the inescapable need to share Jesus with those who do not know Him. It’s the way God uses us. It is His purpose for our lives.

Will you consider the fact that we’ve focused on the easy things?

Hate is easy.

Love is hard.

Revenge is easy.

Forgiveness is hard.

Evil exists, but Jesus is the cure.

Never forget…