My thoughts on this....
Prov 1
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
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I'm not sure it matters if it is judgement or not. The bottom line is that no matter what Gods will was in this, Man should always seek God and repent of sin. It very well could be it is the judgement of God....or it could be just life. But if it is a judgement of God, It was not just judgement on the one city. This whole nation has turned its back on God. No doubt in each one of our cities where we live we know of some sin that God could bring judgement on and if so, many would die. There were more sins in New Orleans than just Gay parades. There as been voodoo practice in the city for years along with drunkness, stealling, lies and many others things. But what city does not have all of these things or at least most?
The fact is we just do not know why. But as I said, what is more important how EACH of us respond to this tragedy. This should be a "life check for us. To remind is about how uncertain life is. We should all make sure we now have our own lives in line with Gods will. Any sins we have in our lives should be removed and we should repent abd return to God. We should also see the lives of others that do not Know Christ, and how we need to share Gods Word with them.
The helplessness shown in the peoples eyes should make any of us be moved with careing for souls. Their hope was in a goverment to save them. Yet salvation of the soul is their only true hope. Sad it was to see many with a anger in their voices and not thankfulness to God for saving them. It was sad to see still others curse God. Others still, took to the streets to steal, kill and rape. Bad times always brings out our hearts for others to see, and if this was judgement , it did not stop the sinning. In many cases some just took up new sins.
I'm not sure how i would have reacted if I was in such a bad flood, but I hope i would draw closer to God. God forbid, but if this time comes my way, and if it was just a time such as Job had, I need to make sure I am close to God just as Job. If its Judgement, I need to repent and get close to God. If its God just wanting to make me stronger, still, it is God I need.
In many ways this was a part of each of our lives. We all saw the faces of need. We all have seen how easy and fast death can come. We all saw the bodies. We all heard the cries for help. We all know what they really need. They need much more then a bottle of water. They need God. Now..what will each of us do?
In Christ....James
