by Bob Russell
September 7, 2025
On September 11, 2001, Joe Dittmar made a simple decision that saved his life. He was attending an insurance meeting on the 105th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when word came to evacuate. Moments earlier, the North Tower had been struck by an airliner. Remembering the old advice not to use elevators in an emergency, Joe reluctantly joined his colleagues and began the long descent—105 flights of stairs.
When they got to floor 78, there was a break in the stairwell and several of his coworkers decided it was too much of a physical challenge to walk down 78 more floors, so they headed for the elevators. Joe Dittmar said several women from his company scurried toward the elevator and beckoned him to join them.
At that point Joe faced a decision that proved to be a pivotal choice between life and death. While it was tedious descending so many steps, something within him said, “No, keep walking down the stairs.” He never saw those women again. Three minutes later a second airliner slammed into the South Tower near the very spot where his co-workers were apparently waiting for an elevator.
By this time, Joe was several floors below the impact point but felt the whole building shake and a blast of heat sweep through the stairwell. He said, “I was terrified. All I wanted at that point was to get home.”
Joe and a few others finally reached the underground concourse and escaped onto the streets of New York City—less than ten minutes before the South Tower collapsed.
This Thursday marks the 24th anniversary of the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001. As our nation pauses this week to reflect on that tragedy, remember these spiritual truths:
Life is fragile. Live in the Present. Trust God with the future.
That morning, Joe and his coworkers had their minds on business. They had no idea of the catastrophe that was about to unfold. Solomon wrote, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Proverbs 27:1).
James added, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).
Life is uncertain. Circumstances can change in an instant. So live in the precious present and trust God for the future.
People matter more than possessions.
As Joe stumbled down those steps, his thoughts weren’t on business or success. They were on family. “I want to get home,” he thought. After he made it out, his first call was to his wife to tell her he was okay and he hoped to be home around 7:00 p.m. She hesitated and said, “There’s a church service tonight, I think I want to go.”
Joe said, “Our family always sat near the front and I told her I’d meet her at church. When I finally arrived at our church building and started down the aisle, my wife spotted me and leaped over the pew and raced to give me the most memorable hug I’ve ever received. We wept and were both so thankful I survived to live another day. That was the moment I knew I was home.”
Jesus taught that the second greatest commandment was to love one another. And He warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). Family and loved ones are infinitely more valuable than things.
Simple decisions can mean life or death.
Joe’s simple decision to keep walking down the stairs saved his life. But each of us faces an even more critical choice—one that determines eternal destination. The right choice leads to eternal life and reunion with loved ones in heaven. The wrong choice leads to eternal damnation.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He also said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The Apostle John wrote, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).
The stakes couldn’t be any higher. The choice couldn’t be any more distinctive. There’s a grand reunion waiting for those who place their trust in Jesus. His word promises, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
The old hymn says it well:
“Friends will be there I have loved long ago,
Joy like a river around me will flow.”
Jesus offers us escape from death and hell—the consequences of our sins. He offers a free gift of salvation to all who put their trust in Him. The words of Moses still ring true: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
“How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
Bob Russell is Retired Senior Minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.