Editor, Times-Union: God good? Or bad? Is there really good and bad? What say you? What choice would play best in Peoria?
In the beginning, we’ve heard God created all things living and non-living declaring it all “good.” How would that play in Peoria?
It was in the summer of 2001 in Peoria, Ill., where our son David had been commissioned to illustrate in mural form God’s “good” creation. The exterior wall of Peoria’s Berean Christian Book Store, 801 W. Lake St., provided the 15x30-plus feet mural surface. Tragically, 9-11 intervened and God’s “good” creation mural was put “on hold” and therefore didn’t play in Peoria.
Providentially, photographs taken at Ground Zero showing destruction of the World Trade Centers, especially those illustrating the heroic sacrifices of firemen and policemen, provided inspiration to our artist son for a replacement mural. Granted orders to proceed, work on “A Rescuer’s Moment” mural began early November 2001, with God providing perfect painting weather. As images of two firemen raising an American flag amidst the rubble, a police officer at attention saluting the flag, and exhausted fireman bowed in prayer, while a fallen welded beam of steel in the form of a cross became a focal point ... Peorians responded.
It’s all on record. Some Peorians came just to watch. Others stood and prayed while others simply wept. One woman, having lost a family member at the Trade Center, said the mural brought a sense of healing. A gentleman thanked our son for depicting his nephew’s grave site in such an honorable fashion. Thankfully, several local artists were even moved to volunteer, thus helping shorten completion time. Peorians gave thanks.
Paying tribute to those many heroes who gave their lives on 9-11, the words of Jesus found in the Gospel of John: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” became the primary focal point of “A Rescuer’s Moment.” This mural reminded Peorians then and all of us to this day the risk to life willingly accepted by every individual who has chosen a profession in which his or her life may one day be laid down for another.
Thankfully, we’ve been “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights to life and liberty.” We’re not puppets. We can freely choose to do good just as our Lord Jesus Christ, offering to rescue each of us over 2,000 years ago, did when he made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
It’s time once again to remember “the good” – the awesome price paid by rescuers on 9-11 and by other rescuers every day since. It’s also time to remember and beware of “the God – the evil” of all those who seek our destruction. Finally, never forget the ultimate price paid at Calvary for our eternal rescue. Give thanks. God is truly good.
