Remebering 911

“What We Must Never Forget”

Dear Church Family,

On September 11, 2001, 25 years ago today, America awoke to what seemed like an ordinary morning. But that morning, our nation experienced a tragedy that changed us forever. The World Trade Center in New York was attacked and collapsed, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., was struck, and a fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. At that time, I was living in Los Angeles. I remember sitting in a campus dining hall that morning, eating breakfast and watching the news on television. We heard that several planes had been hijacked and that another plane was reportedly heading toward LAX. Before long, classes were canceled, and airports, shopping malls, and many other places began to close. I still remember the shock. “How could something like this happen in America?”

It was more than the shock of witnessing a terrible event. It was the painful realization of how deeply human beings can be broken by hatred, evil, and sin. That day, thousands of people never made it home to their families. Firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary people gave their lives trying to save others. Countless families lost loved ones, and an entire nation wept in grief. As we remember September 11, we are reminded of the reality of human evil and the devastation of sin. The Bible tells us that we were created in the image of God. Yet Scripture also reminds us that humanity has fallen into sin.Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Sin can lead to hatred, lies, division, violence, and the destruction of life. September 11 reminds us of what can happen when human hearts become consumed by sin. But September 11 also reminds us that evil does not have the final word. Human evil may be great, but God’s grace is greater. Human hatred may be strong, but God’s love is stronger. The darkness may be deep, but the light of Christ shines brighter. And nowhere do we see this more clearly than at the cross. At the cross, humanity revealed the depth of its sin, but God revealed the greater depth of His love. In Jesus Christ, God entered into our broken world, carried our sin, conquered death, and opened the way to redemption and eternal life. That is our hope.

Our lives will not always be easy. There will be moments when we walk through what the psalmist calls “the valley of the shadow of death.” But Psalm 23 gives us this precious promise: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” He promises that He will walk through it with us. And that changes everything. So today, as we remember September 11, let us remember those who lost their lives, the families who continue to carry their grief, and the brave men and women who gave themselves to save others.

Remembering September 11,

with faith, hope, and love,

Rev. Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church