The terrorist attacks on that fateful day changed everyone. I remember that day clearly. I was a bright-eyed, innocent kindergartner. I was unaware yet of how evil the human condition is. But, that day I saw evil. I saw the towers fall. I was so scared of what was happening, that my mom had to turn off the television because every time they replayed the towers collapsing, I thought that it was happening again. Over 3,000 people died in the attacks. Mothers, fathers, friends, children, and heroes were all gone in a blink of an eye. No one can deny that evil exists.
11 years later, on the anniversary of 9/11, the U.S embassy was attacked in Libya. 4 heroes died. No one can deny that evil is all around us.
It seems that almost every day there is a new murder or new mass shooting. There was a shooting in the movie theater for the new batman movie. There was the Sandy Hook tragedy. There are homicides on the news pretty much every week. No one can deny there is evil in this world. But what about a solution?
It seems that the debate has been around for ages: do you try peaceful treaties or fight the evil? In history, children learn about all the famous treaties, the battle plans, the wars, the bloodshed. Then, people start to question whether we really should go to war. What is the right course of action?
As Christians, we don't have to wonder about what our instincts should be. We are called to trust God and to pray. We should be praying for our teachers, police officers, firemen, politicians, congress, the president, etc... It doesn't matter whether you like the people in office or not. It doesn't matter whether you are a republican, democrat, or a part of another party. We are called to pray without ceasing. Evil will be in the world until the Lord returns. So, we need to pray for a revival. I'm not just talking about a revival in a local community. I'm talking about a widespread revival. A revival that ends with America on her knees. However, revival starts with YOU. Let me say that again, revival starts with YOU. It's easy to look around and blame your neighbor or the president. But we need to get right with God ourselves first. The world looks at Christians and they see hypocrisy. I've done it. I've played the holy sinner. Revival starts when we submit to God. That's when we start to be a light.
Matthew 5:14-15, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
We should never forget those who died in 9/11, the attack on the embassy, the Sandy Hook tragedy, etc...we shouldn't become cold. But we need to let these tragedies fuel us to turn to the only one who can save us, Jesus Christ. Let these tragedies remind us that our days are numbered. We have so little time on this earth so we must pray and allow God to work in our lives so that revival can start with us.
"I really wanna change the world
I really wanna save your soul
But I know revival's got to start with me
I really wanna change the world
I really wanna sing Your song
But I know revival's got to start with me."
"Starts With Me" by Tim Timmons
