As on 9/11—We are in a war. Can we not see the urgency?
Can we simply let 9/11 pass by? And live life back to normal?
We are not “back to normal” today. We must open our eyes and acknowledge, we are in a war. Do we need more evidence of heat, flame, and fires in families, public schools, city streets, and lands?
I share my 9/11 hero story.
Alfred J. Braca went to work on September 11, 2001, in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, on the 100th floor, as any other workday.
I knew Al Braca, from our church in New Jersey. Our sons enjoyed Boy Scouts together back then.
His life stirs in me the courage to make a difference this day. With all the confusion about what love is, Al Braca exemplified true love on the dreadful day of 9/11.
Do I, you, have the courage to love as he did?
A dedicated dad, husband, granddaddy, and loyal bond trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, Al set out to live a “Godly lifestyle” as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. He turned down invites to go out for drinks and carousing and often shared how Jesus changed his life. Consistently, a target of jeers by his colleagues, they referred to him as the “Rev.”
Aware of the marriage troubles, affairs, addictions, brokenness, and pain in his colleagues’ lives, Al often prayed with his wife, Jeanie, that they would come to faith in Jesus.
This day, in a moment, at 8:46 a.m., great confusion exploded all around them as a Boeing 767 flew into the building between floors 93-99.
No warning. Just bang!
Everyone ran to the windows to see what happened. Fire, smoke, chaos, confusion.
Heat rose from below them.
No information. No exit. Then, another explosion. The second tower was hit and caught fire. No one understood what happened.
Men and women on those upper floors discovered there was no way down. Desperation. Fear. Panic ensued.
The story is told, Al went up to one of the big conference rooms on the 104th top floor and told everyone to come to the room.
“I’m going to heaven. Who’s going with me?”
Approximately fifty of his co-workers came into the conference room.
Al wasn’t worried about offending anyone. He had hope.
Al stood up on a conference table and gave them the invitation for life—eternal life.
He was going to heaven. Al shared the Way with those who knew no way.
Al laid it all out as he stood on the table. They had to know. Without receiving Jesus in their lives, there was no hope for heaven. Only death and an eternity separated from God.
Perhaps he shared,
For God so loves you, He gave His Son Jesus to die that you might live.
He suffered and bled on the cross to cleanse all your sins.
Believe in Him right now. Accept Jesus in your life and you will be saved.” (John 3:16, John 6:35.)
Al was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. He knew it was the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Acts 16:31).
There wasn’t time to trust in bank accounts, jobs—nothing.
Al shared Jesus. He knew He was their only hope.
He loved them enough to give them the truth.
“Who wants to receive Jesus and live?” he probably asked. We don’t know his exact words, but we know he prayed for them, right then.
How do we know?
Many of the men and women that met in that conference room that morning, made phone calls to their families.
They said, “Goodbye, I love you,” but they also said, “I will see you again. I just received Jesus. The “Rev” prayed with me to receive Jesus in my life.”
Others said, “Al stood on the conference table and told us how to be saved. I’m going to heaven. I have Jesus now. I’ll be waiting for you there. I love you. ”
These were Al’s comrades. They made fun of him in the past, but no one was jeering now. He gave them an invitation to receive the Lord and He had prayed for them.
Al laid out the truth. The only way to heaven. Jesus. They received the invitation and were saved from death. They had eternal life.
Maybe Al comforted himself and the others in those desperate moments with scriptures he had hidden in his heart:
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:1,2). Fear not; for I am with you, (Isaiah 41:10).
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
Al Braca lives today in my life. I hope in yours as well. He didn’t want his colleagues to be separated from God for all eternity.
He had faith and courage to witness to them. The Holy Spirit moved him to tell the people the truth about Jesus, so they might receive His amazing grace, forgiveness, love, and eternal life.
Thank you Alfred J. Braca.
At the World Trade Center Memorial, look for this name: Alfred J. Braca.
Take notice of the names surrounding his name. These were his colleagues. Many joined him on that day to go to heaven.
Tragedy came unexpected: “I’m Going to Heaven. Who’s Going with Me?”
Will we live our day, ready to love others into the kingdom of heaven?
People in this day need hope. They need truth. They need to know the way.
There is no time for debate. Time is short. Will we tell others what Jesus said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) —before it’s too late?
-tonirypkema.com
(To read Jean Braca’s story, look for Christmas Beeler’s book, Beauty from Ashes. Walking in New Life with God After Loss. The Journey of 9/11 Widow Jean Braca.)
Picture: Courtesy of Calvary Chapel Magazine. (Leading Souls to Christ as the Towers Burned.)