Shortly after September 11th, 2001, I walked down Broadway, New York, beginning from Fulton Street. The scene was disheartening. On the right I saw gaping inlets revealing the horrible remains of what used to be the World Trade Center. Each inlet created by a block lined by devastated buildings was fenced off and guarded by United States armed forces. Each told its own story of the ruined Twin towers which were reduced to a pile of steel and rubble which entombed bodies cremated by the flames that engulfed the gigantic towers on September 11th, 2001.

On the left side of Broadway, I walked among the bewildered spectators. We saw gruesome reminders of what had happened that day. Store after store opened their doors but there were no customers going to buy. Storeowners were just standing around talking with a forlorn look on their faces. All the merchandise were covered with a thick grey powdery substance that reflected gloom and gave the appearance of a scene from a terrible volcanic eruption which had belched out ashes into the surrounding abyss. The mannequins appeared ghost-like and manifested the stark realities of a death scene.

I walked past a Burger King store that also appeared desolate and forsaken by patrons who fled leaving behind their unfinished meals. Drinking cups stood on the tabletops along with food waiting expectantly to be consumed. Burger King food wrappings hung listlessly waiting to be discarded but there was no one left around to do so. These things all served as a sad reminder of patrons who in their mad rush had all scampered in their effort to escape the falling rubble from the imploding buildings yards away.

The windows of jewelry stores no longer displayed the sparkling diamonds and jewelry as before. There were no name brand watches in their boxes. The ash had enveloped their glamorous space and lay stubbornly all around. Time stood still in these stores. Spectators filed down Broadway as they stared in amazement at the scene before them.

During these moments I reflected on some verses in the Bible that point us to certain impending realities. That is the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5: 1-9 says clearly that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. When we shall say peace and safety then it will be sudden destruction. This will come as travail upon a woman with child and man shall not escape.

The verses go on the warn us that we should be careful that on that day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes, we ill not be overtaken as by a thief.

The word advises that we should not sleep as do others but that we should be watchful. We should put on the breastplate of love and faith.

It is not GodŐs will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The word says that we should repent for the kingdom of God draws nigh (Matt. 3:2).

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish in these coming days but they would have everlasting life (John 3:16)

Friends we need to be prepared because no one knows when the Lord will return. He will come as a thief in the night.