I had just gotten home from dropping my daughter, Anna, off at school when the phone rang. It was my wife, Kim, calling from the nursing home where she works as an R.N. "Turn on the TV," she said. I asked her what channel. When she replied, "It doesn't matter." I knew something bad had happened. Little did I realize at the time how bad.

     The second tower had just been hit when Kim called and I saw the beginning of what seemed like endless replays of the impact when I turned on the television. We talked briefly and then Kim had to return to her busy morning routine. Our nation might have been under attack but her patients still needed attention.

     I stood transfixed, staring at the news reports. It all seemed so surreal. The twin towers hit; the Pentagon hit; the White House evacuated; the President hustled aboard Air Force One; rumors of more planes, more targets; another airplane down in Somerset County, Pennsylvania; all civilian aircraft grounded; two UASF jets streaking overhead on full afterburners to intercept a surprised pilot over Richfield who hadn't heard… And then the towers fell.

     Meanwhile, Arab merchants in New York City rushed out into the streets while the towers were burning shouting "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" ("Allah is great! Allah is great!"). Palestinians danced in the streets, giving away candy and cake to celebrate. Palestinian officials, however, later threatened to kill any Western journalists broadcasting the celebrations. Throughout the Arab world Muslims celebrated while the rest of the world reeled, struggling to make sense of it all. Struggling to comprehend the depth of hate unleashed upon thousands of innocent victims.

     Clearly Islamic fanatics are consumed with hatred for the non-Islamic world. Their hatred is especially intense towards America, the Great Satan, and the Little Satan, Israel. The Israelis, according to the late Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, are "the robbers of the century, the manufacturers of world terrorism, the killers of children, women, and the elderly, the stealers of land and livelihood, the destroyers and burners of land, seeds, and stones." Imagine what that makes us.

     Why the hate?

     Is it because we are a friend and supporter of Israel? Is it because we are rich and powerful? Is it because of what the National Education Association calls America's intolerance of other religions and "sexual orientations"? Or, was Senator James M. Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) closer to the real truth when he said:

"Make no mistake about it. This war is first and foremost a spiritual war. It is not a political war. It has never been a political war. It is not about politics. It is a spiritual war. It has its roots in spiritual conflict. It is a war to be fought to destroy the very fabric of our society and the very things for which we stand.... It is not just simple greed that motivated these people to kill. This war has been launched against the United States of America. It is a spiritual attack. It is an attack that was created in the mind and heart of Satan. It is a demonically inspired attack. It is not just the selfish ambitions of an egotistical leader. It is not just someone wanting to hold on to power. This is nothing more than a satanically inspired attack against America created by demonic powers through the perverted minds of terrorists."

     Personally, I'm inclined to agree more with Sen. Inhofe than the NEA. You see, the Bible tells us we have an "adversary the devil," who, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)." Furthermore, he exercises great power and influence over the hearts and minds of men as the "god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)" and "prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)."

     The devil hates God and, as a consequence, all mankind. He did not did convince Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in Genesis chapter 3 out of any love or concern for her. He did it out of hate. He knew that by corrupting Adam and Eve he could hurt God.

     He very nearly caused God to destroy the whole human race. Notice Genesis 6:5-7: "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."

     Fortunately, we read in verse 8 that, "...Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

     The devil knows that the justice and holiness of God demands that "the soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4)." He further knows that since God has "...no pleasure in the death of the wicked; (Ezekiel 33:11)." Consequently, he knows that each soul that goes to hell breaks the heart of God.

     Out of his hatred of God the devil has instigated numerous cults and false religions, fanned the flames of fanaticism, denied the gospel of Jesus Christ, and filled many with a diabolical hatred so great that even the most repugnant of acts become justifiable.

     How else do you explain a devoted Muslim putting his pregnant fiancée on board an airline with a bomb set to go off in the air without her knowledge? How else do you explain a popular Sesame Street-like television program called the "Children's Club," complete with puppet shows, songs and a Mickey Mouse-like character, celebrating violence and terror, teaching Palestinian children songs like, "When I wander into Jerusalem, I will become a suicide bomber."? How else do you explain the atrocities of the Roman Catholic Crusades and the Inquisition? How else do you explain Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and countless others? For that matter, how else do you explain the vendetta of atheists such as the man who sacrificed his own daughter's reputation and well-being by lying about her (she is a Christian) in an effort to take "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance and the ACLU-types that support him?

     As someone once observed, "Fanaticism has always held the slaughter of those who are deemed heretics to be praiseworthy." Whether that slaughter is the loss of life, the loss of reputation, or the loss of freedom, the devil knows it grieves the heart of God.

     The ultimate expression of the devil's hatred of God, however, has been his corruption of God's message of salvation. Countless cults and false religions, as well as the Catholic Church and liberal, Christ-denying Protestant clergy give people a false sense of security. While proclaiming the "doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1)" they fail to warn that "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)"

     The end result? Multiplied millions of honest, sincere, religious people depart from this life into a Christless eternity. Having been taught that all roads lead to God they find instead-too late-that Christ and Christ alone is "...the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Jesus Christ] (John 14:6)." They sacrificed, they gave, they joined, they were baptized, they served, they took communion, they did everything they were told to do except come to Christ in faith, trusting Him as their personal Saviour. No one ever showed them Romans 6:23 where the Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

     Consequently, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23 )"

     And the devil knows God's heart breaks.

     Want to overcome hate? Want to help America win the war on terror? It starts at home. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)"

     God bless America!