September 11

by Micky Galloway

The horrible, murderous attacks on this nation and its innocent civilians are a clear and sobering reminder of the presence and power of evil, of the fragile nature of life and of the importance of always being right with God. Must a tragedy occur for us to be reminded to keep our priorities in order?

What does God’s word say about evil? What has God put into our hands to protect the innocent and punish the guilty? What should all people do in the face of calamity? What can Christians do in the face of evil?

When Evil Comes

First, let us be reminded that evil exists in this world. Evil is given fertile soil in which to grow and flourish whenever people through ignorance forget and reject God. It was true during Jeremiah’s day as the people “walked after vanity,” “have forsaken me,” and have “forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:5,13,32). This was also true in the days of the apostle Paul as he described the wickedness of the people in Romans 1:20-32.

Secondly, the same evil which is behind terrorism is also behind every other sin … Satan! Peter describes Satan as our “adversary … as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). We are also instructed to, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual (hosts) of wickedness in the heavenly (places)” (Ephesians 6:11-12). Satan and sin can and must be resisted in faith with the whole armor of God. We must be combatants in this war with the assurance that victory belongs to Christ (Revelation 17:14)! Unfortunately, too many have forgotten the real battle against sin, forgotten who our real enemy is and have laid down their arms and given up to the world in complacency.

Thirdly, be assured that God will bring all evil to justice. Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-21, “Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath (of God): for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” It is not personal vengeance that is to be sought, but God can use civil governments to execute his wrath. He has demonstrated this in the past as he used his people Israel to defeat and punish the wickedness of the Amorites. Then he used other nations to punish and defeat his people Israel. Romans 13 speaks of civil government as “a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.” Indeed, “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17, 25). Of course the final and ultimate vengeance is eternal. Paul said in II Thessalonians 1:7-9, “and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, (even) eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

When Calamity Strikes

Those in sin must repent and return to God. In Amos 4:6-12, God used calamities to punish and/or turn his people back to Him. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons that we need to be reminded of is that, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). For many years in America we have been killing thousands of unborn babies in defense of our own immorality. We have allowed those who do evil to escape with little or no consequence. Let us be reminded that no nation which harbors and fosters sin will stand - not even America. The scriptures teach, “Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah …” (Psalms 33:12).

As a nation, we must turn back to God and remember that our coins bear the inscription “In God We Trust” and our Pledge of Allegiance includes the words, “Under God.” These words should excite meaning in the heart of a forgetful nation.

What Are The Righteous To Do?

Let us learn to resist evil and do good. Amos said to the people of Israel, “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:14-15). The apostle Paul likewise said, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). We must pray for our leaders that peace and justice may prevail. I Timothy 2:1-2 says, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.” Even in the midst of turmoil, we must learn to wait upon the Lord. Isaiah said, “Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and for that he is strong in power, not one is lacking. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice (due) to me is passed away from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:26-31). Let us support the government’s efforts to execute justice (Romans 13:1-5) and let us learn to “be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Even in the face of death, those who trust in the Lord do not fear death because the Lord is with them (Psalms 23:4).