What Can the Righteous Do?
Response to September 11, 2001 Events – City Church of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
When the Foundations are being destroyed…
This was the cry of David in Psalm 11. It is our cry today as we reflect on the horrific week this has been in our nation. Who does not feel a loss that is unspeakable?
These tragic events were not just terrorism. They were evil. They personify the words of the ancient prophet Jeremiah, The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
(Jeremiah 17:9, NLT).
In today’s message, I will not try to speak philosophically about the existence of evil and the mystery of the sovereign providence of God. Today, I would like to speak to your heart more than your head. What, if any, personal significance does this tragedy hold for us. Let us begin by observing how Nehemiah faced tragedy in Nehemiah 1:1-2:5
TODAY IS A TIME TO MOURN
When I heard this, I sat down and wept…for days I mourned. It is O.K. to cry. It is human and natural. Mourning is a thoughtful response to painful circumstances.
John 11:35, Jesus wept.
Romans 12:15, Weep with those who weep… The grief of a Christian is tempered by hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13, We do not want you to grieve as those who have no hope.
Matthew 5:4, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
TODAY IS A TIME TO PRAY
Nehemiah’s prayer is one of the great prayers of the Bible, demonstrating to us how to pray in times of crisis.
1. He begins his prayer not with the crisis, but with the Character of God.
O God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love…
2. He confesses sin.
I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned…
3. He expresses confidence in God’s promises.
Remember what you told your servant Moses…
4. He asks he God’s help.
We are your servants…please grant me success.
IT IS A TIME TO MOVE INTO ACTION
Send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried. Jesus answered questions about tragedy in Luke 13:1-9 about tragedies in his day. He gave the following conclusions:
1. Don’t judge the victims.
2. Don’t judge God.
3. Judge yourself.
The pressing question is not “Why did these people die?”
The fundamental question for us is “Why are we still alive?”
Ultimately it does not matter how you die, but if you are ready to die.
James 4:13-17, Look here you people who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what will happened tomorrow? For your life is alike a morning fog—it’s here a little while; then it’s gone.
What you should say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to we will live and do this or that.’…Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
