By Chris WittsThursday 10 Dec 2015Morning Devotions with Chris WittsDevotionsReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
I’m sure you can recall the terrible events of 11 September 2001 in New York with the massive loss of life when 2 planes smashed into the world trade centre twin towers. It seemed unbelievable that this could happen and be seen by so many people around the world on TV.
The years have passed since then, but we will never forget the tragedy. I did read of one amazing escape from harm shared by Ron DiFrancesco, a money-market broker, who was working at his desk on the 84th floor. One plane ploughed into the north tower opposite him, and smoke started to pour out from that tower. Others started to move away towards the lift, but he stayed, thinking everything would be Ok until his colleagues told him to get out. He started walking towards the elevators. Then at 9.03am the next plane hit his building, between floors 77 and 85. He was on level 84. His floor was destroyed but he walked into a stairway, and started walking down. Smoke filled the staircase and the fire doors were locked. He seemed trapped. He was gasping for breath when all of a sudden he heard a man’s voice say to him “get up”.
There was no-one else with him, but he heard this insistent, urgent voice telling him to get up. Ron said later it was more than a voice –he had a vivid sense of a physical presence. Someone led him to the stairs down fighting his way through debris and was faced with flames. But the voice told him to run through the fire. He was singed by the flame but he kept on going, until he came across a lift stairwell below the fire on level 76. He was the last person out of that south tower before it crashed down at 9.59am. Police later said Ron was one of only 4 people to escape the building from above the 81st floor. Today he still cannot understand how he survived, but he believes in divine intervention. He believes in God who protected, led him and spoke to him.
Do you believe in God’s protection? I do – I don’t understand how it works, but I’ve heard about it happening to people and read stories like that of Ron DiFrancesco.
It reminds me of Psalm 91 in the Old Testament and I like The Message paraphrase. “He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you – under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing – you’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,yes because God’s your refuge,the High God your very own home. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. ‘If you hold on to me for dear life’ says God,’I’ll get you out of trouble. I’ll give you the best care if only you’ll get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you..I’ll give you a long life.
The Bible is filled with accounts of God’s supernatural protection. Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace?
What about Daniel and the lion’s den?
God has no problem bringing you out of threatening circumstances. Time and again He has proven He is well able to get the job done.”.
Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV), “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. And Psam 46:1 “God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble”. What a great comfort to know that we have a loving God who we can trust even in the bad times.
C. S. Lewis’ wrote a short book called Miracles. A reluctant convert from atheism to Christianity, C. S. Lewis approaches the question of divine intervention with a thorough examination of whether all that exists is the natural world with its unbreakable laws, or if there really is a Sovereign Creator who has the right, the intent and the interest in his creation to break in and perform miracles.
“We must decide between naturalism and supernaturalism,” he writes, “whether our universe (nature) is a democratic sum total of everything, with all events being interdependent, causal and sequential; or, that there is a Superior Being, outside nature (probably its Creator) and capable of deliberate interference in nature.”
“For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.” — Psalm 91:11 NLT (New Living Translation)
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand] — Psalm 91:1 AMP
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” — Psalm 91:14 NIV