09/11/2024
This year's 9/11 devotion is not "new" (but fresh). This brother's story needs to be re-told!
"I'M GOING TO HEAVEN -- WHOSE GOING WITH ME?"
Most of you know that I have been part of the Calvary Chapel movement (simple, rock solid, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, God-honoring worship) since I finally surrendered in faith to Christ as Lord and Savior at Calvary Albuquerque in 2004. Al Braca -- killed on 9/11 -- was also a Christian brother who also served in his local Calvary Chapel church. On this day, where most of my focus is on my fellow First Responders who gave their lives on 9/11 (a great many of whom died without a saving faith), I am pressed to again share part of Al's legacy (he was in fact a Gospel First Responder), to both "press it forward" and encourage you.
Al Braca was not a First Responder in the traditional sense but rather a bond trader with Cantor Fitzgerald (one of 657 of their employees who died on 9/11). He was working on the 104th floor when the towers were hit. Trapped as the tower burned, it was reported that Al Braca climbed atop his desk and declared, "I'm going to Heaven, who's going with me?" He then proclaimed the Gospel to his coworkers (again, a God-sent First Responder to be sure). Al's body was one of the very few that was found intact in the rubble (no small miracle, although his soul was already in heaven).
Al's office was above where the first jet crashed -- he and most his co-workers were not getting out. Those who were trapped with Al, heard the Gospel message he shared, and those who received Jesus as their Lord and Savior were blessed in that they were afforded this rare last chance. Many were not so fortunate. Therein lies a lesson: no one is promised a "last chance" (no one is promised "tomorrow"). Friend, TODAY needs to be day of YOUR salvation (see https://www.gotquestions.org/today-is-the-day-of-salvation.html). I beg you -- receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior NOW whilst you can. Here's how: https://thecenturionlawenforcementministry.org/know-god/.
And if you do know Him as Lord and Savior, adopt Al's sense of urgency to share your faith with others.
Al's beloved bride, Jeanie, joined him in Heaven 13 years later. Christmas Beeler had the privilege of writing their story in the book, "Beauty from Ashes" in partnership with Jeanie and with permission from her family. The following article is an excerpt from the first chapter as re-printed in Calvary Chapel magazine:
https://calvarychapelmagazine.org/articles/leading-souls-to-christ-as-the-towers-burned.
Friend, I need you to hear me. If you are reading this and know -- REALLY KNOW -- Christ as Lord and Savior, and your "9/11" (last day) comes, you too will be in heaven with Al and his bride. But if you elect to die having refused to repent of your sin and be born again into a genuine, life-saving/life-changing personal relationship with Christ (a Christian as God defines it), you will NOT go to Heaven but will rather spend eternity in a very real place called Hell. It does not have to end that way. Again, I implore you, "Repent and believe" (Mark 1:15) NOW whilst you still can.
And yes, Al Braca died a hero of the faith -- I look forward to meeting him when my time comes!
