History in the Making

Almost 10 years ago on September 11, 2001, we Americans and the much of the world watched in horror as two airplanes brought down the twin towers, one changed the shape of the Pentagon, and one went down in a field as free American civilians became the first soldiers to die in the war on terror.  President Bush demonstrated great restraint when he did not react.  While the world was urging us to turn the Middle East into a parking lot, Bush took care of home first, but the war on terror had begun.  In his wisdom, he did not kill millions of innocent people in an angry reaction yet miss the one who had orchestrated the attack.

Now, on May 1, 2011, President Obama demonstrated the same restraint when he said nothing when he signed the order to act, to send Navy Seals into a compound to eliminate Bin Laden mano a mano.  In his wisdom, he did not kill millions of innocent people.  He sent them to kill one man.  Three other people were killed, two men and a woman that one of the men used as a human shield.  No Americans were killed.  We won a war in approximately 40 minutes that began 10 years ago.

Our country has changed leaders during the past 10 years.  Two men.  Two philosophies.  Two different places in the war, one at the beginning and one at the end.  However, our country has had one constant...Jehovah God!  

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14.  He has healed our land.  Have we called on His name? Have we prayed?  Have we sought His face?  Have we humbled ourselves?  Have we turned from our wicked ways?  I haven't.  We as individuals may not be deemed as having fulfilled our part of the condition, but Praise God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have been REdeemed, and God has healed our land and our collective experience of oppression through grief, hopelessness, and helplessness.  

"No longer will they teach their neighbor, 

   or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
   from the least of them to the greatest.
 For I will forgive their wickedness
   and will remember their sins no more" (Hebrews 8:11-12)

I have NO DOUBT that Jehovah God has made Himself known to all, and I thank Him that He keeps His promises when I do not.  President Obama, his advisors, and the men who carried out the orders deserve so much credit, respect, and gratitude.  Let us not forget to thank our God who never was surprised, never was caught off guard, never was searching for Bin Laden.  My God knew.  My God acted.  Why now?  Why did so many have to die?  Why did it take 10 years?  I have no idea! I'm just grateful that He did.

The war was not with Islam; the war was and is with sin.  Jesus is the only One who ever won that war, and through Him, we can dance victoriously in the streets of our country tonight just as we will dance victoriously in the streets of gold.