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Lessons from Katrina August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. Towns on the Gulf in Mississippi and Louisiana were devastated. Some experienced total destruction and others were over 90% destroyed. On television were images of flood waters in New Orleans, people on housetops trying to get help, people stranded on bypasses, and bodies floating in water. Over 1500 people died in New Orleans and many more died in Mississippi and Alabama. It was hard to comprehend what had happened. The Bible records events for us to learn from. The Old Testament was recorded for our instruction, Romans 15.4. Jesus told the people to "remember Lot’s wife" (Luke 17.32); in speaking of the last days He told the disciples there would be no warning and it will be "like in the days of Noah" (Matthew 24.37) when people would be marrying and going about their usual business. We must learn from these and other events or we will make the same mistakes those in the Bible made. So what are some lessons we can learn from Hurricane Katrina? Tragedies Bring Out the Best and Worst in People We saw the best and worst in people after Katrina hit. Pictures of looters breaking into stores to steal televisions, gun, jewelry, high price clothing, etc, it would be one thing for people to be getting food or necessities for survival but people were simply trying to take advantage of the situation. The same can be said for merchants. Gas prices rose rapidly due to the stoppage of oil drilling and refineries being shut down. However, some service stations started charging over $5 a gallon. At the same time we saw the best in people; Helicopter pilots risked their lives and pushed themselves to the point of exhaustion to rescue those trapped on house tops. Others gave money, drove to areas needing help, and shipped supplies where needed. Many towns opened up places for displaced people. A number of families from Mississippi and Louisiana came to Jonesboro, Arkansas. Civic organizations, church groups, businesses, and individuals came to their aid. It came to a point there were more resources then what was need. It made one feel good to see such an out pouring of compassion. We can read of the same circumstances in the Bible. God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, yet they complained and grumbled in the wilderness. While Jesus was on the cross the crowd mocked Him, and soldiers divided His garments. Such cruelty is hard to understand. We see the best when we read of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. He died so we can have forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. Acts 4 we see Christians selling their possessions so as to help other Christians while at Jerusalem. The Face of Suffering As a society we are not used to suffering. Our houses have air condition and heat; refrigerators with food, showers and bathtubs, televisions, computers, and the list go on and on. When we are sick we go to the doctor and expect to feel better in a few days. It was hard to see people in need of water and food. To see bodies on the side of the road or in the water and no one to get them. People were upset and angry. However, suffering occur everyday in our world. People are dying, in need of food, clothing, and medical attention all around us. The Bible speaks of our responsibility toward the unfortunate in Galatians 6.10 and James 1.27 just to name two passages. Such responsibility is not that of the local congregation but the local Christians. Let us not be accused of being uncaring or indifferent. The Reasons People Died Physically and May Die Spiritually People were repeatedly warned about Katrina and told to leave their homes for safety. Many left but others decided to stay. I thought about the reasons many gave for staying and how they relate to why people will be lost spiritually. People stayed home because they were warned on other occasions and the hurricane never hit. It is the old "cry wolf" syndrome. Year after year a devastating hurricane heads for the coast only to lose its strength at the last instance. Many dismiss the judgment day because we do not know the hour or day. The Bible speaks of hell in many terms but Jesus says this, "43 if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 45 "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mark 9:43-48) What could be worse than having one’s eye plucked out or hand cut off? Going to hell will be much worse. Yet many refuse to obey God’s word. Others stayed because it could not happen to them. Sometimes hurricanes veer off and hit somewhere else. If they thought about it they realized it hit somewhere; someone would be killed and/or lose their possessions but it would not effect them. When speaking of death and the judgment people think it will not happen to them, they won’t die or at least not at the present time. Every generation before us has passed away, Hebrews 9.27. Eventually it will happen to us and we must be ready or be lost. Many thought they could stay and protect their homes. They did not want looters to come it and take away their possessions. I compare this to those who will not obey God’s word because they do not want to leave sin. In other words they refuse to repent due to the pleasures of sin. The pleasure of sin is for a season but eternity is forever. I heard one man said he was hoping to "beat the odds." He realized it was risky and even foolish to think such but he just felt lucky. I do not know if he survived or not but many died due to such reasoning. Man may hope God will excuse him for his sins and his luck will be enough to enter heaven. Matthew 7.26-27 speaks of the foolish man that built his house on the sand. The winds blew the rains came and his house fell down. Heaven is not for the lucky but for the obedient. Finally, some people did not have a way of escape. They waited too long, lacked a mode of transportation, or were in poor health. We may feel sympathy toward those that lacked a way of escape but spiritually we have no such excuse. If we can hear the gospel we can believe and obey it. God has given us all a way to heaven by His Son. 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3) Let us be prepared for the storms of life and build our lives upon the word of God, Matthew 7.24-25. D. T. |