What Christians Can Still Learn from 9/11

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12

Even though more than two decades have passed since the devastating events of the morning of September 11, 2001, its smoke still lingers in our memories. Most of us remember exactly where we were—what we felt, what we saw—as the towers collapsed and the world held its breath. For a generation, it was the defining moment etched in the heart of a nation. But even now, with so many years removed, Christians have not finished learning from that day. 

In this reflection, I want to offer a few truths that 9/11 presses upon the Christian heart—truths we must not forget, even when the headlines grow silent.

1. Evil is real.

On that day, we saw evil not as an abstract doctrine in a theological textbook, but as a tangible reality. We watched depravity unfold in real time—in falling debris, in panic, in ash, in the cries of survivors, and the silence of those who never came home. 

We’re reminded that evil is not merely a bad decision or an unfortunate misstep. It is rebellion against God. It is the fruit of hearts separated from their Creator. Romans 3:18 rightly says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” That was true in the hearts of the terrorists. And if we’re honest, apart from the grace of Christ, it would be true of us too.

Christianity doesn’t minimize evil; it explains it. It names it for what it is and proclaims that Christ alone has conquered it in the gospel.

2. Life is a vapor.

James 4:14 reminds us, “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.” On the morning of 9/11, thousands of people poured coffee, kissed their children and spouses goodbye, went to work, and boarded planes. They had no idea eternity was so near. 

We fool ourselves into thinking we have time—more days to get serious about the Lord, more years to fix our families, more time to share Christ with others. But life doesn’t give that guarantee.

The lesson is not to live in fear but in faithfulness. We must number our days—not to dread them, but to use them for what matters most: the glory of God.

3. In crisis, people cry out for God.

For a brief moment, churches were filled in the wake of national mourning. People who hadn’t prayed in years dropped to their knees. Flags flew, memorials were erected, and Americans instinctively turned their eyes upward.

That’s because we were made to worship. In times of tragedy, even the most hardened skeptic senses eternity is breaking through. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has “put eternity into man’s heart.” Tragedy has a way of awakening that longing. But too often, as the crisis fades, so does the devotion. Our prayer is that these moments would not produce temporary religion but lasting repentance.

4. God is our refuge and strength.

The Sunday after 9/11, Psalm 46 was read aloud from pulpits across the country: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…”

The towers fell. But God did not. The earth shook. But the throne of heaven remained unshaken.

As believers, we must hold fast to this fundamental reality: our hope is not in governments, buildings, or earthly security. Those can be taken from us in a moment. But Christ is a fortress that no plane, no fire, no enemy can breach.

5. We are called to be light in the darkness.

In the days and months that followed, stories of courage emerged from the rubble and twisted steel—first responders running toward danger, ordinary citizens carrying one another down dark stairwells, strangers helping strangers.

That is what salt and light look like. Believers are called to be visible witnesses of gospel hope in a world engulfed in fear.  Paul exhorts us to shine as lights “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation” (Phil. 2:15).

The lesson here is not just to be courageous when disaster strikes but faithful in ordinary days. The world is watching, especially in moments of suffering.

6. Christ is our only true peace.

A confident country cried “peace and safety,” and in moments that security vanished. But Christ offers peace that the world cannot take away. Our Lord said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27).

Only in Christ is sin forgiven. Only in Christ is death defeated. Only in Christ is our soul anchored. And only in Christ do we have the hope of a kingdom that cannot be shaken—even by terrorists.

Let us not wait for the next crisis to proclaim this good news. Let us be bold and urgent now with this message: Christ, the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and rose victoriously from the grave, and those who call upon His name shall be saved (Rom. 10:13).

Applications for today

The shadow of 9/11 still stretches across our country. But for the Christian, that shadow serves not to diminish our hope, but to clarify it. It reminds us that our security is not found in what man builds, but in what God has already secured through His Son. What can we do decades later?

• Live ready: Don’t delay repentance and spiritual priorities. Eternity is only a breath away.

• Proclaim the gospel. Speak the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection often.

• Shepherd the grieving. Many still carry the wounds from that day—survivors, children who grew up without parents, military families. Be a comforter.

• Remember with purpose. Use anniversaries like 9/11 to share with your children the truth about evil, about courage, and most importantly, about Christ.

• Thank God for common grace. Acts of heroism, compassion for others, and national resilience are all glimpses of God’s mercy—even in a fallen world.

The towers fell. But the tomb is still empty. That is our hope!