By Staff
Editor's note: Virginia Dawkins wrote this Message of the Week prior to the capture of the alleged snipers in Washington.
By Virginia Dawkins / special to The Star
Nov. 2, 2002
On a beautiful sunny morning in September 2001, as people were busy doing ordinary things, terror struck our nation as planes crashed, buildings disappeared and thousands of people died.
Immediately, new security measures went into effect in airports, aboard planes and in various places across the country.
Now, one year later, people living near our nation's capital are experiencing a new form of terror. They find it dangerous to do ordinary things, like filling their cars with gas, sending their children to school, or shopping at Home Depot. Lurking in any parking lot could be a gunman, seeking a human target.
October's terrorist is no respecter of persons. His victims have been black, Caucasian, Indian, Hispanic, male, female, senior citizen and teen-ager. There seems to be no effective security system to combat this evil.
My family members in the Washington area are at risk. Moreover, anyone in any city or community can become a possible target. When the gunman or gunmen are captured, we sill sigh in relief. Yet, later some other form of terror is likely to emerge.
The enemy is not the mysterious gunman in the Washington area. The enemy is Satan himself, who seeks to inhabit and control human beings. The only effective security system is God.
Lisa Beamer has written about losing her husband, Todd, when United Airlines Flight 93 went down on 9-11. She has titled her book, "Let's Roll," in honor of Todd's last recorded words as he bravely attempted to divert the hijackers.
Lisa says, "There is no true security system anywhere in the world … the only security in this life comes from placing our trust in the God who loves us and is in complete control of the events of our lives and our world."
She adds, "Fear comes from feeling out of control, yet, we are never really in control."
When we place ourselves in God's control, we can live each day knowing, just as Lisa's husband, Todd, knew that God provides security as we "roll" on with his plan for our lives. When we walk in obedience to God, whether we live or die, we are secure.