We Remember

September 11 is a day of public and private remembrance for us.

We join with our country in remembering those who died on September 11, 2001. We remember the ordinary people who became heroes. We remember their families. We honor their memory by pausing for a day to remember.

In church yesterday, the pastor reminded us of how many places in Scripture God calls us to remember. Remember, lest we forget. Remember His deliverance, remember His wonders, remember His mercy, remember His sacrifice.

The pastor also talked about hope. We tend to treat hope as a verb, "I hope we win" or "I hope it works out." In the Bible, hope is a noun. Hope is a sure thing. He read these verses from Lamentations 3 that I have meditated on over and over again:

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

Hope is a certainty with our Lord. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And when He comes, every tear will be wiped away. There will be no more death or suffering. In Him, all will be made new and all will be made right. In the end, justice does triumph over evil. Judgment will come. Heaven is real. But so is hell.

September 11 is also a day for the Gent and I to remember Noel's life, on what would have been our baby's birthday. We thank the Lord for our first baby and the gift of life. We praise Him for His faithfulness to us. We thank Him for His steadfastness and His mercy. We don't dwell on what might have been, but simply thank the Lord for what is. Even when we don't understand, God is good, and His love endures forever.