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ROKU AppRemembering 9/11: What America Should Have Learned
Written by Tim Groves
As Americans reflect on the tragic events 10 years ago, much has been written about what we have learned. But it is evident that we did not learn perhaps the most important lesson of all.
Many of us can remember where we were and what we were doing on that tragic September morning 10 years ago.
Yet do we remember what happened immediately afterwards? Violent movies that were scheduled to be released to theaters were postponed, and many Americans began to seek God.
But as the days after turned into weeks, then into months and now years, many of these same Americans have lost their interest in God and instead returned to the theaters to watch the movies with gratuitous violence and sex.
Yes, when one looks around today, most Americans’ lives are back to the way they were before 9/11 or worse. And God is again no longer in the picture. Why?
History repeats itself
The Bible is filled with stories of God’s chosen people Israel. Israel would forget God, give into sin and fall into trouble. Then they would cry out to God, and He would save them. Then Israel forgot God, sinned and fell into trouble again. They cried out to God again. This scenario repeated itself over and over until they finally ended up in captivity because of their continued disobedience.
As we have written before, America is part of the modern descendants of ancient Israel (see “How the Blessings of Abraham Came to America”). And the simple truth is that Americans have been plagued with problems because they have neglected the biblical morals they once knew and have not turned to God.
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to His people (including America today): “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
The lesson America should have learned
Americans should have recognized their need to turn to God. Only God can truly protect us. Without God’s protection, we are vulnerable.
The book of Esther tells how a man named Haman wanted to destroy many of God’s people. Just as al-Qaeda makes it clear they want to destroy America, Haman made it clear he planned to destroy all the Jews (part of Israel) in one day (Esther 3:12-15).
But God intervened to save His people because they sought Him with humility by fasting. In the end, it was Haman who was destroyed because God’s people looked to God for deliverance. It appears that there was not even one casualty among the Jews, as God gave His people “rest from their enemies” (Esther 9:22).
But Americans still don’t have rest from our enemies.
America needs to turn to God
The psalmist wrote, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. … The LORD shall preserve you from all evil” (Psalm 121:2-7).
But when we look at America today, it seems God is removing that shade and protection.
So why is God not with us? Why is God not preserving us? Because we have not turned to the true God.
The only way America can receive God’s blessings and protection is for us to repent with humility and turn to Him. Then God will be there for us (2 Chronicles 7:14).
So here we are, 10 years later, and America has still not learned this vital lesson. But one thing is certain: We can either willingly get on our knees with humility or be driven to our knees with calamity. Which will we choose?
Tim Groves is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. He and his wife, Teresa, along with their four children, live in South Carolina.
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