The "Last Column”

The anniversary of 911 is just weeks away. And with that in mind, what has become known as the ‘Last Column’ was returned to the historic site on August 24th. Column No. 1,0001 B of 2 World Trade Center, the last standing column to be taken down, will become part of the National Sept. 11 Memorial & Museum.

The 58 ton, 36 foot tall beam had been a makeshift memorial to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and was being stored at a hangar at Kennedy Memorial Airport for seven years. But now it has been brought home to be the centerpiece of the memorial and the official symbol of ‘rebirth’ in contrast to the infamous day of death.

The new tribute to the victims of 911 is welcomed and beyond appropriate – especially for those brave souls who rushed into burning building to help others and thereby perished themselves. But no symbol of ‘rebirth’ or worthy memorial can bring any of them back. They cannot ever be reborn and gain back their lives and futures once they were cruelly snuffed out. But as difficult and permanent as that painful reality is, there is a more crucial form of rebirth that is possible for any and all men to achieve.

In John chapter three Jesus was seen in a theological discussion with a Pharisee – one of the elite religious leaders of that day. At one point their conversation led God’s Son to startle Nicodemus concerning the reality and the requirement of a new spiritual birth. Verses 1-2 describe the occasion. “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." But from there Jesus suddenly got to the core of the matter in verse 3. “Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This same term is used again in 1 Peter where the Apostle writes, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” (1 Peter 1:23)

What Nicodemus missed about salvation is the same exact thing that scores have still misread ever since. John wrote plainly about the qualification for redemption, recording Jesus’ words in 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Then too, Paul adds his own Holy Spirit directed explanation in the third chapter of his letter to the church at Rome. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith." (Romans 3:24-25)

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28) The nation, and the entire world, looked on in horror at the vicious tragedy that was 911. As the death toll mounted, a nation grieved for the brutal unexpected loss of fellow citizens, family, and friends.

But those who had been justified by Christ, and were walking closely with Him, had additional thoughts amidst the horror of that day. First, they were wondering and worrying about the fate of those who perished in the towers who had never been born again nor ready to face God. And at the same time, they we in serious prayer for the survivors and thanking their merciful Savior for those who were fully forgiven through faith and thereby fully ready for the next life.

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-13)

Bill Breckenridge