The place where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center stood before September 11, 2001 has been called "Ground Zero." Since that day, people around the world—citizens and friends of the United States, those who lost loved ones in the attacks, as well as the terrorists and those sympathetic with them—have focused their attention on "Ground Zero" and what happened there. It has been proclaimed the worst attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor and has left the country with fear and an awareness of the power of an enemy bent on destroying the country and the freedoms often taken for granted. This event has caused irreversible changes in the world, not only to the terrorized, but to the terrorists as well.

There is another "Ground Zero" on this earth called "The Place." Everyone in the world should focus his or her attention on what happened there. It was far worse than what happened at "Ground Zero," and has had an effect on every person who ever lived. The greatest battle that ever took place was at Calvary where the battle between good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, Christ and Satan occurred. Notice the account of that scene: "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him [Christ], and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left" (Luke 23:33).

Crucifying Christ was the most terrible mistake mankind could ever have made. For had "the princes of this world" known that the Creator hung on that cross "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8). But it was on the cross that "Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). It was because of your sins and mine that Christ suffered, died, and paid the penalty for the sins of everyone who will receive Him as their personal Saviour. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Like the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the battle at Calvary lasted only a few hours and the One who was apparently defeated became the Victor. Christ, the Creator of the universe, bore the judgment of God against sin, and thus defeated Satan. Now, all who own to God that they are sinners, and who trust Christ as personal Saviour, are delivered from eternal death in the Lake of Fire. "That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14,15).

Since the tragedy on September 11, 2001 we have learned that there were warnings beforehand, but apparently the warnings were not heeded. The Lord Jesus Christ has warned many times of the coming judgment, but do you realize the terrible danger of eternal punishment you are in because of your sins? Jesus said: "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

Dear reader, your soul is far more valuable than your body, which is the most the terrorists can kill. Jesus said: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36,37). "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Every person born into this world is "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1)—spiritually dead toward God. You are in danger, dear unsaved friend, of losing your soul and suffering for your sins in the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

Are you awakened to your dire need? If so, here is God's wonderful good news for you: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15). Is your question the same one the jailor in Philippi asked: "What must I do to be saved?" The wonderful answer is, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:30,31). Don't wait another moment to be saved forever, and then enjoy the freedom of not being afraid. You then can say with the Psalmist: "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me" (Psalm 56:11).

—Dave Johnson