IT JUST MAKES ME ANGRY

(Written on the 5^th anniversary of 9/11)

Matt. 5:44-45

“I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

As I watch the documentaries and dramas about 9/11, as I remember the events of that day, I just can’t help but get angry.  When I see Hezbollah missile launchers on top of apartment buildings and then hear wailing about collateral damage and the “killing of innocents” when those launchers are targeted by Israel it makes me angry.  When I see the mutilated bodies of captured Americans hanging from bridges in Iraq it makes me angry.  When I hear the same people who want to keep the Bible out of every public place in America talking about “Koran abuse” at Gitmo it makes me angry.  I am sure you get the picture, and I am sure that you are troubled by many of the same things.  But that is just the beginning for me.  There are lots of other things that make me angry.  The whole state of the world – the dishonoring of Christ and the lack of respect for His Word . . . 

You know the amazing thing?  That is my flesh talking.  Scripture says, “The anger of man does NOT achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). You know as well as I do that God could destroy every one of those people with a word; yet He doesn’t.  Why?  Is it because He doesn’t care about the death of innocents?  Is it because He isn’t offended by what unbelievers do and say?  No.  It is because He is patiently giving them opportunity to repent (2 Pet. 3:9).  Some will be saved.  Jesus said: if you want to be like your heavenly Father, then pray for your enemies – that reflects His heart.  Oh, make no mistake about it; God is just.  The guilty will not go unpunished.  But punishment is not the task of the believer.  Our task is to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, with steadfastness and faithfulness, until He comes. 

--- Pastor Keith Andrews