BELLA VISTA — We can be sure God is working, even in difficult situations. Consider the following story ...

A man from Norfolk, Va., called a local radio station to share this on Sept. 11, 2003, two years after the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. His name is Robert Matthews.

These are his words:

“A few weeks before Sept. 11, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child.

She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her.

“Shortly after I said ‘amen,’ we both heard a loud pop, and the car shook violently. We hadblown out a tire.

“I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight and, both very upset, we drove home.

“I received a call from my father, who was retired NYPD. He asked what my wife’s flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight.

“My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower (of the World Trade Center). I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for me;

he was going to help.

‘This is not something I can just sit by for; I have to do something.’

“I was concerned for his safety, of course, butmore because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, ‘Take good care of my grandchild.’

“Those were the last words I ever heard my father say. He died while helping in the rescue effort.

“My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away.

My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ and I never got to say good-bye.

“Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door.

I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn’t expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child.

“The man looked atme and asked if my father’s name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, ‘I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.’

“He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack.

She was pregnant and had been trapped under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her.

My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this.

“(The man) then said, ‘There is something else you need to know.’

His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.

Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and this family would be able to thank him themselves.

“When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life so that a mother and a baby could live.”

I am pressing on. What about you?

* * *

Thad Moore is pastor of Bella Vista Community Church.

Religion, Pages 17 on 10/21/2009

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