09.12.06

(Originally sent on the one year anniversary of 9/11)

But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ but he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. - Genesis 39:12-13.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Joseph gives us a vivid example of the urgency that is needed in regard to fleeing from sin. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that the "wages of sin is death.” We should search desperately, diligently, urgently for the way of escape from sin because sin brings about death and destruction in our lives. Those escaping from the death and destruction of 9/11 also gave us a very vivid picture of fleeing from what will bring death into our lives.

One of the heroes of 9/11 was Welles Crowther. Welles was only 24 years old and worked as an equities trader for Sandler O’Neil on the 104th floor. But Welles was also a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Nyack, New York. Just after the second plane slammed into the south tower Ling Young was lying facedown on the 78th floor of the elevator lobby when she regained consciousness. When she looked up there was her hero, Welles Crowther. He told her, "I found the stairs. Follow me, and help the ones that can be helped.”

Crowther helped Ling Young and some others down a dozen flights of stairs to where he thought it was safe and then turned and said, "I’m going back upstairs to help.” In the elevator lobby of the 78th floor were close to 200 people who were injured, dying, or dead and that was where Young had been, that was where Crowther was heading. There was smoke and fire everywhere but he still was going back. Crowther found Judy Wein and Gigi Singer and led them to safety staying with them for 15 floors. He went back up planning to make a third trip.

As the ambulance left with Judy Wein and Gigi Singer, the south building collapsed. It collapsed with all those people still trying to make it out including Welles Crowther. But because of the heroism of Welles Crowther and many others - hundreds of people did find the way of escape and made it to safety. Their heroism will never be forgotten by those that they rescued.

As we are fleeing from the temptations of this world and as we are find the way of escape from the attractions of sin,let us take some people with us. We can be AND need to be heroes in the lives of those around us who have lost their way. We have the tools and the resources that we need. We have the Word of God, we have the privilege of prayer, and we have a wondrous Savior - we have what we need to be heroes to a dying world.

As you are fleeing from sin, temptations, and the world, be a hero and take some people with you.

 (The entire sermon that the devotional is based on may be read at: http://www.theburningbush.org/newestsermons.html#THE%20BUILDING)