When you count epochal events in the history of the US, September 11 can never fail a mention. On this day in 2001, 19 Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations hijacked four commercial planes and turned them to war machines. The hijackers were said to be financed by the al Qaeda terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden. Ostensibly, they were acting in retaliation for America’s support of  Israel and its continued military presence in the Middle East. By the time the dust settled, a total of 2,996 persons had died, including the 19 terrorists themselves, representing 78 different countries. The ripple effect of this earth-shaking event continues till date. Apart from turning routine security checks at airports to a gruelling experience, it also marked the beginning of several other terrorist activities around the world.

When people have such compelling mission that passes threshold of the fear of death, they end up doing significant things – for good or evil.

Despite how horrible that event coded 9/11 was, there are lessons to learn from it. The hijackers had a mission they trained for. Some of them had trained for about a year on how to fly commercial planes. Apart from that, they knew they would die in the course of their self-appointed mission. When people have such compelling mission that passes threshold of the fear of death, they end up doing significant things – for good or evil. The hijackers had a mission for which they were willing to pay the ultimate prize. Such people shame the disciples of Christ who can’t risk losing their sleep for what they believe. We also notice that the hijackers died so that many more people could die as well; and they succeeded at it. We have a better story in the gospel. Jesus died so that through His death, many may live! It is the greatest demonstration of love.