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Some of the survival stories from the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of the U.S (and the world) are fascinating to read and they show the role of the providence of our Creator in our daily lives.
THREAD
THREAD
The morning of Tuesday, Sep 11 2001 started like any other in New York, with clear blue skies the backdrop of Manhattan skyscrapers among them the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, the tallest buildings in the world at the time of completion.
No one could have predicted that by 10:30am, both 110-storey buildings would have collapsed after American Airlines flights 11 and 175 crashed into them, killing 2977 people, injuring over 25000 and causing at least $10billion in property damage.
Monica O'Leary survived because she was fired from Cantor Fitzgerald, a firm on the 101st-105th of the North Tower, less than 24hrs before the attack. In fact, the firm lost all 658 of its employees that reported to work, including those that would have processed her layoff.
Greer Epstein, an executive of Morgan Stanley on the 67th floor of the South Tower, rarely took breaks because she never had time. But on this fateful day, she took a cigarette break at 8:40am. By the time her lift reached ground floor, a fireball had gone through her office.
When making her schedule for Sep, flight attendant Elise O'Kane mistyped a code. She traded all her flights but for Flight 175 on 9/11. She tried again on the night before but the system froze. By the time it came back online it was past the deadline therefore she survived.
Nicholas Reihner was supposed to have been aboard American Airlines Flight 11, his ride home from Boston to LA after vacationing in Maine, but he'd twisted his ankle while hiking and ended up missing the flight.
Most of these survivors do recognize that these near misses are a gift, though chalking up their fate to randomness and blind luck.
A quick glance at the Scriptures, however, suggest otherwise. We know that God works ALL THINGS according to the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11)
A quick glance at the Scriptures, however, suggest otherwise. We know that God works ALL THINGS according to the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11)
While Paul is using this statement to support a specific application about predestination, this does not nullify the truth of the general statement, that God indeed works all things for all human beings to the counsel of His will.
God also governs all human plans and acts.
Jeremiah 10:23: "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not man who walks to direct his steps."
Therefore, it is clear that everything that human beings do is, in the end, the will of God.
Jeremiah 10:23: "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not man who walks to direct his steps."
Therefore, it is clear that everything that human beings do is, in the end, the will of God.
This serves as great encouragement to believers because if a Sovereign God extends His benevolence to non-believers, how much more we who are His children? How much more we who He has called according to His purposes and has promised that everything is working together for good?
If human fathers who are evil, like Jesus said in Luke 11:13, know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more a perfect Heavenly Father?
Child of God, trust your Father in heaven to deal you only what is good for you at all times because He loves you perfectly.
Child of God, trust your Father in heaven to deal you only what is good for you at all times because He loves you perfectly.
Trust in a Sovereign God who orchestrates every occurrence, small or big, in our lives here on earth to work out for our good.
Rest on this truth and promise from His Word even when often times it does not feel like it.
Rest on this truth and promise from His Word even when often times it does not feel like it.
