Remembering 9/11: 24 Years Later – A Call to Faith and Readiness

Twenty-four years ago, on September 11, 2001, our world changed in an instant. Nearly 3,000 lives were taken in a coordinated act of terror. We saw planes crash into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a quiet field in Pennsylvania where courageous passengers fought back. We watched the towers fall, and with them, we felt our sense of security collapse.

For many of us, that day is etched into memory—where we were, who we were with, and the deep shock we felt as we saw evil manifest itself so plainly. But for an entire generation now reaching adulthood, 9/11 is not a memory, but history. They did not see the smoke, hear the cries, or feel the fear firsthand. And so as we mark the 24th anniversary, it is not only about remembering the past—it is about reflecting on what it means for us today.

The Reality of Evil and the Frailty of Man

The attacks on 9/11 remind us that we live in a fallen world. Scripture is clear: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). What we witnessed that day was the fruit of sin—hatred, murder, and destruction.

But 9/11 also highlights a sobering truth we dare not ignore: life is fragile. Thousands of men and women woke up that morning, went to work, boarded planes, kissed their families goodbye—never knowing it would be their last day on earth. James 4:14 asks us, “What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

If 9/11 teaches us anything, it is this: tomorrow is not promised. Every heartbeat is a gift of God’s mercy.

The Sovereignty of God and the Hope of the Cross

Though evil men carried out their plans, they did not dethrone God. He remains sovereign over all nations, all events, and all hearts. In the ashes of that day, we also saw the light of courage, compassion, and sacrifice. Firefighters and police officers rushed into burning buildings. Ordinary citizens risked and even gave their lives to save others.

Jesus told us: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Those who gave their lives on 9/11 remind us of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. He bore the wrath of God for our sins, so that through His death and resurrection, we might be saved.

The cross reminds us that while sin and death are real, so too is redemption. Where man’s hatred sought to destroy, God’s love offers eternal life.

The Call to Watch and Be Ready

Tragedies like 9/11 are a wake-up call. Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Disasters—whether caused by terrorists, natural forces, or even sudden illness—confront us with the truth that death is certain, but the timing is unknown.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 warns: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” Christ could return at any moment. Are you ready? Have you repented of your sins and trusted Him as Savior?

To honor the memory of those lost, we must not only grieve but also examine ourselves. Are we living in light of eternity? Are we proclaiming the gospel with urgency? Are we praying for revival in our land?

Our Hope Beyond the Ashes

Even twenty-four years later, the pain of 9/11 still lingers. Families still grieve. First responders still carry scars. Our nation still remembers. But as Christians, our hope is not in this world.

We look forward to the day when Christ will return, when every tear will be wiped away, when justice will be done, and when He will make all things new. That hope doesn’t erase the grief, but it gives us strength to endure.

Psalm 46 reminds us: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.” He was our refuge on that dark day in 2001, and He is still our refuge today.

So as we remember 9/11 on this 24th anniversary, let us do more than mourn the past—let us live faithfully in the present, and let us look with hope to the future.

Because our hope is not in towers of steel, nor in the strength of nations, but in the Rock of Ages who cannot be moved. 

DMMC. 9-11-25