9/11: An Untold Story

I dedicate this post to the 2,997 lives that were lost on September 11th, 2001.

Seventeen years ago today marks the largest terrorist attack in all of world history. Nearly 3,000 Americans were killed after two hijacked planes were flown into the Twin Towers in New York City, New York. We all know the story, and many of us cannot even bear to think of it. Yet amidst this story, there is "An Untold Story"--one that ought to captivate our attention.

We all know of the two planes hitting the Twin Towers as well as another plane hitting the Pentagon, but there was a fourth hijacked plane that often isn't mentioned: Flight 93. This plane was (by the providence of God alone) delayed, allowing the flight attendants and passengers to hear of the terrorist attacks and be aware that their plane may also be under attack. During the flight, the terrorists showed themselves, hijacked the plane, and took control of the cockpit. However, three passengers on Flight 93 were not about to let the terrorists take another countless number of lives. Knowing that the hijacking of this plane could lead to the deaths of many of their fellow Americans, they decided to attempt to attack the cockpit; they decided to risk their own lives for the sake of their country.

Rumored to have charged the cockpit with a fire extinguisher and boiling water as weapons, flight attendant Sandy Bradshaw, Todd Beamer, and Thomas Burnett, Jr. executed one of the bravest acts in American history. Determined to take the plane down without it crashing into another building, these three courageous Americans overcame the four hijackers, and in doing so caused the plane to flip over and crash into an empty field in Pennsylvania at over 500 miles per hour. All forty-four passengers on the plane were killed, but the number of lives that were saved were countless, as the plane was rumored to be attempting to hit the White House or the U.S. Capitol.

Before the three passengers attacked the cockpit, Thomas Burnett, Jr. had the opportunity to call his wife. His words, so hard to fathom, yet deeply profound:

"I know we’re all going to die. There’s three of us who are going to do something about it. I love you, honey."

Since years past, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 were thought to be a "wake-up call" to Americans--a way of God's judgement upon them as the country has deeply forsaken its original Christian virtues. Although I wouldn't argue against that, I think that we can find a deeper application in this story through the words of Thomas Burnett, Jr. The three courageous Americans on Flight 93 knew they were going to die, but they were courageous enough to save as many as they could before that happened. The cry of their hearts were "I know we're all going to die...[but we] are going to do something about it."

What if the cry of our hearts was the same? What if, instead of looking at our "dying" country, we decided to "do something about it"? What if, instead of complaining about the issues that America has and the corruption that its politics contains, we decided to fight for our country? What if instead of throwing in the towel we threw ourselves into the fight?

I am personally convicted that although "kingdoms will fall" (Isaiah 40:8), every Christian ought to "fear the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17). In other words, just because our country seems to be failing does not mean that our allegiance to serve it has dissolved. Not only as Christians but also as American citizens, we have a duty to serve "the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." A countless number of men have fought for the country that we have today (including the three courageous Americans on Flight 93), and the worst thing we can do to honor them is to simply "throw in the towel." Will kingdoms come and kingdoms go? Yes. Is America God's eternal kingdom? No. But that does not change the fact that the Lord has set up all authority and commands us to be subject to it (Romans 13:1). What will you to do serve your country?

Furthermore, for us as Christians, we must remember that all of our fellow Americans are in fact dying, and so are we. Since the beginning of time, death has been undefeated. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). So what are we "going to do about it"? We are headed towards a physical death, but how many can we spiritually save in the process? Each and every one of us in our fleshly bodies are passengers on a hijacked plane headed for destruction, but before God takes us home, who can we fight for? Who can we save while we are still here? Who can we die for so that they might live?

I pray that the words of Thomas Burnett, Jr. would forever be the cry of our hearts, both for our country, as well as for the spiritually lost:

"I know we're going to die...[but we] are going to do something about it."

Works Cited:

1. History.com Editors. “9/11 Attacks.” History.com, 2018, www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks.

2. Sawe, Benjamin Elisha. “Worst Terrorist Attacks In World History.” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 21 Nov. 2016, www.worldatlas.com/articles/worst-terrorist-attacks-in-history.html.