Posted on 08/10/2002 6:59:42 AM PDT by Mr. Mulliner
I understand the essence of your essay, COB1, and do agree. What Satan intended for our harm (and it did cause terrible harm), God knew was coming in his Omniscience and allowed it in His Providential Will - and is using this disaster to bring good - for individuals and for our country.
But that does not, as others have said, negate the terrorists individual accountability before a Holy Righteous God for their actions. Instead of the paradise with virgins, these terrorists are now experiencing the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" that comes for those who are banished from the presence of God for all eternity. There is no greater "terror" than to not be with God in all eternity - to be separated from His presence. There is no greater horror. By acting against God, against the true God, and on behalf of a false god, one of many Satan has created down through time, those terrorists and others like them show forth the evidence of their eternal damnation.
Lisa Beamer, on the other hand, and her husband, by their faith and actions on that faith, have displayed the truth that they have received eternal life (which does not end when this physical life is over) from the One who died that they might have that eternal life!!!
And, thanks be to God, yes, He can turn and has turned this nation back towards him - just a bit at least - using these horrible events.
I believe that He has actually given America a window of opportunity to truly turn around and go towards God.
Individuals are doing this - but not the country as a whole - not yet.
Not that God would want that suffering and death for any human being. He does not. He says over and over in His Word that His will is for us all to come to the knowledge of the Truth - which is eternal life through His Son!
Just as at Columbine High - where Rachel Scott's courageous stand for God in the face of murderous evil - reached out to others in this country and the world - as she was murdered because she would not repudiate her faith in God...so also, Todd Beamer's faith and courage have reached out to people in the nation and the world - and Lisa Beamer's radiant faith, the same.
God knew what was coming. God had Todd Beamer and the others who acted on the "Let's Roll" command on that plane. God gave the time on the ground to delay that plane's actions long enough so that the people on the airline would KNOW what had already happened and would make the decision to act.
Just like Rachel Scott's testimony shook up the enemies of God and of America across the world - so, too, the testimony of Todd and Lisa Beamer and others has shaken up those who want us destroyed. More importantly, souls have been redeemed - and many more will be - after reading about Todd Beamer's and Lisa Beamer's story! Praise God's Holy Name Forever!
In trying to separate us from our Father (most especially if we are close to God), he uses our weaknesses to sin - tries to create doubt - and heaps upon us grief and sorrow and sickness, sneering "Where was your god when your child/loved one was taken or stricken by 'XYZ?;' the earthquake/tornado/fire struck, etc.
Some do then 'blame' God, losing sight of His love for us.
The Holy Spirit IS always there if we know Him, surrounding and comforting us until we are better balanced and avail ourselves of His full love.
It is our will to choose to follow the Plan He has for us - or reject it.
Still - even when we stray or stumble, He is there when we repent, picking us up and setting our feet on His path again.
Therein lies the beauty, knowing that such horrendous things as 9/11 and the Holocaust can be used to - being stunned as one said - bring us to individual and national repentence and strongly seek Him.
I think Cob said it best:
Therefore, these tragedies of 9/11 are tragedies only from our perspective. In God's perspective they make perfect sense.
I, like John Piper, believe strongly in the sovereignty of God.
Were these terrorists prepared all their lives to be on that plane at that time to carry out God's plan?
Was Judas prepared all of his life to betray Jesus?
Did either have a choice?
This is a conundrum.
If they had a choice then they could have at any time chosen a different route to take in their lives, and God would have had to revamp His plan.
I don't think God ever changes His plans.
So were the terrorists predestined to be there to do what they had to do just as was Judas?
If they were predestined to do what they had to do, then they were predestined to go to hell!
The only way that I have ever reconciled these seemingly contradictory ideas is to believe that predestination exists with God, but not with man.
We, as a nation, must use Job as our example.
We have been afflicted with a dire tragedy, but we must be thankful that God has chosen this nation to exert His will on earth, and has chosen our people to be His tools of righteousness.
Other posters have stated it in various ways, but the simplest way I know how to say it is that God's ways are only mysterious to us. Girded by an abiding faith in His abilities, we may not understand, but can confront and accept life's challenges with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Let's Roll...
FGS
Her comparison of a well-intentioned memorial service performed without God as it's center and Todd's Christ-centered service is striking, especially for those of us who've attended both types. One is sadness, wan hopes and thin comfort, although well-intended.
Your "simplest way" of saying it is very profound!! I, too, found myself drawn to her description of the difference in the services and her ability to express it so well.
What a great article! Thanks for posting this!
Thanks you so much, John.....without your ping I may have missed this thread.
God Bless Lisa Beamer and her beautiful children! Her faith & Todd's faith based courage will surely be the example to bring many souls to God.
BTW this is the first time I've heard about the phone operator also being named Lisa and the coincidence of the scripture passages.....God works in mysterious ways....that are beyond our comprehension.
But this I know. God is in charge! He knows where we are going and how we are going to get there! He also knows US, calls us by name, and the hairs of our head are numbered. There is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus - nothing! Not life, not death, not principalities or powers, not trials or tribulations, not sickness, not terrorist attacks, not anything on, in, above, or under the earth that can separate us who are IN CHRIST JESUS - by His marvelous grace.
I am happy to read the information and teachings and enjoy these discussions and you put your throughts on this deep subject so well.
But now, for tonight, I am just gonna say - it is a joy to know that despite the deepening darkness, God is on the throne and in control and will bring us through whatever lies ahead.
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