August 30, 2011, Rushing in where others are fleeing:

On 9/11 the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center about 8:45 AM.  The building, with incredible damage and fires raging within, stood for about an hour.  Stories from survivors tell of the heat, confusion, smoke and wreckage blocking exits in the massive building.  A short time later the horror was repeated in the South Tower.  Thankfully in the time between the attacks and the collapses of the towers thousands of people were able to escape.  In the supreme statement of terror and desperation, some jumped from hundreds of feet up.  

While thousands were fleeing, there were hundred who were going in.  Firemen and paramedics went in to do their duty.  They rushed into buildings from which others were fleeing.  Because of their efforts many survived.

Though I live five-hundred miles from New York City, and ten years have passed since that tragic day, I still see shirts and hats emblazoned with "FDNY."  The quiet heroism of New York's first responders is incredible.  With them it isn't a boast; it is more of a job description.  "We go into burning buildings while other's are fleeing."  In the Brotherhood that makes up the country's largest fire department, the members encourage one another to "Do the right thing."--the FDNY motto.

If you read the words of Christ on the night before the Crucifixion, John 13-17, you'll notice that He didn't mince words in speaking of the evils and dangers of the world.  

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18)   

". . . you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. . . ." (John 16:20) 

"In the world you have tribulation."  (John 16:33)

"The world has hated them [Christ's followers]."  (John 17:14)  

 Remarkably, though, the Lord does not help His followers to leave the world.  John 17 explains how He is leaving, but He is leaving them (for His followers today, "Us")  A short time later, after His death and resurrection, he sends His peopleinto the world.

With good reason many Christians see reason to flee the world.  Obviously, we can't do so completely, I mean, we are stuck here on this piece of rock, but the temptation to so insulate ourselves from the world that we have essentially abandoned it is great.  Doing the right thing is often hard.  In the case of those who follow Christ the right thing is to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel."

To go into a world, from which we want to flee, with the message of salvation.  It's the right thing.  

It's STTA.

 A follow-up note:  (post for 8/30)