Lessons From Katrina

Lessons From Katrina

Introduction: A few weeks ago we were joking about hurricane Dennis. Having a hurricane is funny until something devastating occurs. This last week I watched a lot of the coverage concerning the hurricane and its aftermath. We see the pictures of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana; places of total devastation. Witness the rescue of 100’s if not 1000’s of people. Heard the stories of survival and death being retold from the survivors. I want to deviate from our series this morning to learn some lessons from hurricane of Katrina.

I. LEARN FROM THE PAST TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

a. Tragedies of recent years.

i. Pearl Harbor, assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, etc.

ii. More recently the World Trade Towers, and now hurricane Katrina.

1. The largest natural disaster in the history of this country.

2. The first evacuation of a major city since Richmond and Atlanta during the Civil War.

b. Bible principle stated in Romans 15.4.

i. Not everyone lived during the days of the 1st Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho fall down. But these events were retold to remind Israel of the power and might of God. Psalm 106

ii. Jesus referred to events in the O.T. to teach an important principle.

1. Remember Lot’s wife, Luke 17.32

2. Days of Noah, Matthew 24.37

3. the sign of the prophet Jonah, Matthew 12.40

c. When people forget those lessons they are doomed to get hurt.

i. Both physically and spiritually.

II. TRAGEDIES BRING OUT THE BEST AND WORST IN PEOPLE

a. Best

i. People risking their lives to help others

ii. Relief efforts to take care of those in need.

b. Worst

i. Looting, stealing jewelry, guns, etc.

ii. Reminds one of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible.

c. We see the same in the Bible

i. Israelites complaining in the wilderness, turning to idols for help in time of need

ii. Others turned to God for help, thought of others, Acts 4.32-35

III. THE FACE OF HUMAN SUFFERING

a. Recent images

i. People sleeping on housetops, bridges and overpasses, they are thirsty, hungry, tired, frustrated.

ii. People searching for loved ones that they know are dead.

1. Suffering happens around us every day

2. The reasons we may not notice is because we have it so good.

b. Jesus saw the suffering

i. Jesus wept, John 11.35

ii. He was moved with “compassion” --Matthew 9.35-38;14.14; 15.32

c. Be careful of not seeing what needs to be done both physically and spiritually

i. Passing on the other side, Luke 10.31-33

ii. Individuals doing the little things makes a big difference, Gal. 6.10; James 1.27

IV. SOME REASONS PEOPLE SUFFER

a. People don’t pay attention to the warnings

i. The old “cry wolf” syndrome

1. Katrina was a cat 5 and did weaken to a cat 4.

2. A cat 4 is a major hurricane, see the devastation, and deaths

ii. Many dismiss the seriousness of the Judgment Day, Mark 9.44

b. It won’t happen to me

i. Hurricanes veer off and people thought that would happen this time.

1. Just because it had not hit before did not mean it would not this time.

2. Somebody was going to get hit.

ii. People deny the reality of death and the judgment, Hebrews 9.27.

1. Partly because they don’t want it to happen

2. Partly because it hasn’t happened yet, 2 Peter 3.1ff

c. They did not want to leave their home (repent)

i. Thought they could protect their things, just ride out the storm

ii. People don’t want to repent but keep on living as they always have, Matt. 7.26-27.

d. I will be one of the lucky ones

i. I will be different and beat the odds

ii. God’s will not save the lucky but the obedient, Matt. 7.24-25

e. Did not have a way of escape

i. People did not have transportation, health problems, waited too long, etc.

ii. Unlike these people you have a way of escape, John 14.1- 3,6

Conclusion: What can you say but for the grace of God we are very blessed physically and spiritually. Use those blessings to serve God now and be with Him in eternity.

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