Today marks eighteen years since our nation experienced the tragedies that took place on 9/11. Our country was forever changed on that fateful day in which almost 3,000 people were killed through those acts of terrorism. Yesterday on social media, there was a reminder going around that on this date eighteen years ago (September 10), 3,000 people had no idea that they were spending the last night of their lives with their family and friends.

 

That is a sobering thought.

 

And it is one that we should reflect upon.

 

Over and over again, God warns us in the Bible to not take our lives for granted. One of the most familiar passages in the Bible that speaks to this theme is found in James 4:13-14:

 

“Come on, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

 

I started pastoring my first church a month after the events of 9/11, and one of the lessons I have continually been reminded of is the lesson of not taking life for granted. It is true that we just never know what any day may bring. Life is so fragile, and in a matter of seconds it can change dramatically for any one of us. Things are not always going to be the same as they are now, and we will face many twists and turns in this life. Sometimes these twists will involve the pain of loss and death.

 

This is why God tells us we are to be well aware of the fragile nature of our lives. We need to learn to take advantage of each moment that we are given in this world. Hold on to those who are around you and make sure you are investing yourself into the lives of others. At the end of day, people will not remember us for all the things we accumulated in life, or the toys we bought or played with, or even the job titles that we earned. But they will remember the moments in time they shared with us.

 

Because of the fragile nature of life, we have to be really good at holding on to the most important and letting go of the things that weigh us down. Instead of holding on to hurts and hang-ups, be quick to give them over to God and learn how to treasure the people that He places in your life. Make sure you are following the Greatest of all Commands as taught by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40, “Love the Lord Your God with all of your heart…and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Let us forever be reminded to take advantage of every precious moment that the Lord blesses us with on this earth.

 

Because eighteen years ago, 3,000 people didn’t know they were about to leave this world and enter into eternity. They didn’t know September 10, 2001 would be the last time they would have dinner with their spouse or play with their kids.