The Cross and 9/11: Hatred Does Not Have the Last Word, Love Does

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 has enabled us to know more about the sacrifices of the men and women who lost their lives on that day.  Families have shared testimonies of last phone calls with their loved ones and phone messages left on recorders.  Common threads for these heroic men and women who died needlessly or sacrificed themselves attempting to save others is duty, dignity and love.

The terrorist attack on America on 9/11/01 can only be explained by pure evil.  Their aim was to kill as many people as they could and destroy the morale of a nation. Hatred struck our nation, but it did not have the effect the terrorists desired.  Yes, of course, life will never be the same, especially for those family members and friends who lost a loved one that day, but hatred did not have the last word.  Love did.

Firefighters, policemen and every day citizens did in the moment of tragedy what evil never would have done.  They thought of others instead of themselves - the husband who called his wife knowing he would not survive continued to tell her how much he loved her and wanted her to have a good life, the firefighters who went into the burning buildings knowing there was a good chance they would never come out, the people of New York who came out of their homes with sandwiches and water to give to anyone who needed it, the heroes of Flight 93 who took over the airplane knowing that it was a target for the nation's Capitol and many, many more stories like these that were proof that people cared enough for others that they would sacrifice their lives.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends (John 15:13). Hatred did not have the last word. Love did.

The airplane that struck the first tower shocked everyone.  Those in that building were taken by surprise. Many who sacrificed themselves during the next three crashes were aware of the attack.  Although they had little time to respond, there was a little forewarning because of the first crash.  Even so, the stories of heroism continued. Hatred did not have the last word. Love did.

In the intervening ten years, young men and women in our military have voluntarily gone into harm's way to protect not only the freedom of the country they love, but the lives of those they left behind. Hatred did not have the last word. Love did.

The legacy of these heroes is being lived out in the stories told by their husbands, wives, children, parents, grandchildren and friends. People are alive today because of the sacrifice of someone on 9/11 or because of the sacrifice of a serviceman on the battlefield. Many have decided to serve because their loved one served. Many are striving to live a life that would make their loved one proud of them.  Hatred did not have the last word. Love did.

Evil caused 9/11.  Evil caused the death of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself for all mankind.  His trial, torture and crucifixion did not take Him by surprise.  It was His plan all along to declare His love through His sacrifice.  In the strongest sense of the word, the cross was His declaration of "I love you" to the world. All those who trust in Jesus are alive spiritually forever because of His sacrifice on the cross.  Hatred does not have the last word.  Love does.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, 38-39).