9/11: How Do We Respond?

Acts 1:9-11

Acts 1:9-11 is the major passage in the New Testament that describes the ascension of Christ into heaven after His resurrection.  The disciples are staring at Christ as He ascends into heaven, wondering when he will return.  Just then two angels who are sitting near the disciple speak up and ask the disciples why they are continuing to stare at Christ ascending into heaven.  It seems the angels knew that the disciples where thinking about when Christ would return.  The angels encourage the disciples by telling them that Christ will come back in the same way that he left.  Those words from the angels are very significant for it proves that Christ will come back one day in a visible and physical form.  However, the point of the text is that the disciples where loosing focus and the angels had to pull them back to the earth.  Christ had just given them instructions; He had commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses. 

Now, reflecting on the events of 9/11, events that forever changed America.  From the news footage and statistics, there were more than 400 first responders that died responding to the crisis at the World Trade Center.  What was truly amazing was that people were running into the building, into the very place that was hazardous, dangerous, and deadly.  Many lost their lives for running back into the building because the thought of saving one person was worth the effort.  And we all know and heard today the countless stories of heroic efforts of so many ordinary people that sacrificed in a variety of ways.  But what if these people, and these first responders, decided not to respond.  What if they chose not to help, not to sacrifice, not to pitch in wherever needed?

I am so grateful that these first responders decided to go and sacrifice, just like I am so grateful that the disciple chose to respond to the command of Christ and go and sacrifice.  What if the disciples, watching Christ ascending into heaven, decided not to go and just sat, waiting for Christ to return?  The first eight chapters of the book of Acts show example after example of people who sacrificed for the cause of Christ, who did whatever it took to get the Gospel out to as many people as they could.  Countless people were reached with the Gospel, and are still being reached with the gospel today, all because twelve disciples decided to sacrifice and go!

So what’s our excuse?  We’ve been given the same commission as the disciples were given.  What if we decide not to respond to that still small voice?  I wonder what God has in store for those who do respond, and I wonder what we miss when we don’t respond?   Why is it that we have to pull teeth to get people to serve in ministries, but they are willing to sacrifice anything for sports and other hobbies?  People ran into the world trade center without thinking for a moment about their well-being to help people they did not even know.  Yet people cross our paths every day and what kind of thought come to our mind??

We will never forget the events that happened on 9/11 and I hope we will also never forget the commission that Christ gave to all believers: go and make disciples!