I’ve just left the Big Apple, where I enjoyed some amazing opportunities to observe One World Trade Center. Towering 104 floors above the Manhattan skyline — that’s 1776 feet — the glistening monument crowns New York’s 9/11 Memorial. Breathtaking to say the least. (I snapped this photo Saturday morning.)
Coincidentally, construction of the awe-inspiring project began on my birthday in 2006. These years of nonstop attention to detail in design have in no small measure been driven by a desire to demonstrate to the world that the tragic events of September 11, 2001, only bolstered our national commitment to freedom.
I suppose we could debate what could or should have been the most honorable use of that universally-recognized piece of real estate, but I think we would all agree that the new skyscraper casts an impressive shadow over New York City that significantly and genuinely memorializes a critical chapter of our nation’s history.
When it comes to our great God, are we casting a gospel shadow over our city? Are we, as God’s own people, remembering His faithfulness to us — and erecting the knowledge of His glory in the hearts of our children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors?
In First Samuel 7, the Bible records a time when the fearsome Philistine warriors were bearing down on the Israelites. God’s people begged Samuel to cry out to the Lord on their behalf. God “thundered with a mighty sound” and provided a great victory, and Samuel instructed that a stone of remembrance — the “Ebenezer” from one of my favorite hymns — be raised up for that generation and for future generations.
God calls us to remember. The Scriptures are replete with such reminders. We must remember what the Lord has done on our behalf, and we must help others to remember as well.
You and I must raise the Ebenezer in our day! We must testify of the goodness and love of our Jesus who still saves by grace. May the rock of our joyful witness point many to the Rock who is faithful and true.
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