Through Jesus, We Overcome Our Darkest Tragedies

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(7) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (8) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’ (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)

Paul, in his 2^nd letter to the Church in Corinth, provides for us a picture in Chapter 4 of the Truth of the Christian life.  It is a life-changing Truth, and despite all of our frailties, it is God, not us, who is unshakable, unshattered, and solid.  Even in a tragedy like 9/11, 22 years ago, we see that in man’s power and strength, through some of our most prestigious accomplishments in construction, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, are not indestructible.  The size and stature of each of the Towers was immense, the steel and concrete were to last centuries as a tribute to man’s 20^th-century achievements.  Yet in one coordinated attack, they came down quickly – even more quickly than many people imagined. 

The destruction of the Twin Towers are not the end of the story for us; the story begins and ends with God.  Like the Towers, we are ‘jars of clay’.  We and our accomplishments are breakable but with Faith and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus, we can withstand the trials the world throws at us, and His accomplishments are everlasting.  9/11 brought great pressure to the US and individually to Americans.  Confusion and questions rang out, why us, why now? 

But through His power, Jesus did not allow us to be abandoned or crushed but allowed us to move forward.  We lost 3,000 people that day; their lives here can never be restored, and we have hope that many of them had a time while with us to accept Salvation and gain eternal life, as their time is no longer here.  Corporately, though, the US and the American people were struck down but not destroyed; we are still here, the Freedom Tower replaced the Twin Towers, and the Pentagon was repaired.  Not in our power, but by the power God provided in us to rebuild.

Though the world dismisses it, God allowed us to get through the tragedy of 9/11.  We are now 22 years past it, and though we have the social issues of today that seem insurmountable to resolve, we have the empirical evidence of the 9/11 tragedy that we can overcome these issues, with the Lord at our side who will provide us with His solution.  We will suffer, now and periodically throughout our lives, but with Jesus with us, we will triumph!  For in the end, God and His people win!