IN TIMES LIKE THESE:
Katrina, Gas, Sin
The events of this past week are not likely to ever fade from anyone’s memory, at least not in the near future. Here in the world’s only super power it’s citizens have been left hopeless. Many have been seen wading through chest deep water that is contaminated with human waste and decaying bodies. Many people have not had food or clean water since last Sunday. Those who were fortunate to get to a shelter found deplorable living conditions. The stench of death filled the New Orleans Superdome as many of those who sought refuge there died from a lack of food, water and or medicine. Families huddled together while other family members died at the very shelter where they sought relief. The effects of hurricane Katrina reached far away from the gulf coast where she made landfall; in North Carolina a gas shortage brought on by the disruption of a pipeline out of Louisiana threatened to bring the state to a standstill as gas prices soared to four dollars a gallon. The images flashed on our TV screens looked more like a third world country that needed help than the “Good Old’” U S of A. On one news program one of the displaced asked, “Why did God do this?”
Did God do this? God created a perfect world where there was no death. In Genesis one the word “good” is used seven times. Each time it was after God had created something and looked at his creation. Genesis 1:31 sums up the creation week this way: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” In that week of the creation God did not create death, or any mechanism by which death could abound. God created GOOD. Through Genesis two there was no death, no sin, nor anything else BAD. The real dividing point in the Bible comes in Genesis three. After being told not to eat from the tree of good and evil (Genesis 2:17), man succumbs to the temptation: and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Genesis 3:6). This one verse divides the two worlds of the Bible: a world without sin and a world with sin. It was this point that opened the door for death and all the evils of the world. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men” (Romans 5:12). Had there been no fall of man there would have been no vehicle for the events of this week. Each person who died this week, be they Christian or heathen, reaped the consequences of that moment on the Garden of evil. Every second of suffering this week, be it in New Orleans or hundreds of miles away, was allowed by Adam’s sin: “by man came death” (1 Corinthians 15:21). Because of the sin of Adam “it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). It is interesting that the very next story recorded in Genesis after the fall of man is one of Murder (Genesis 4).
Due to the sin of Adam, death not only claimed the sinner but those who had not sinned as Adam: “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression” (Romans 5:14). The events of this week claimed not only the heathen but also claimed those who are saved. Preachers lost their homes and churches along side dealers and pimps who also lost all. Saints huddled with whores trying to seek shelter. The wrath of sin is no respecter of persons. Schools were leveled as were prisons. Hospitals were put out of commission just as the brothels were. Those who had been joined with Christ felt the consequences of that first sin just as those who had cast their lots with the influence of Satan.
It is in times like these we need a savior. And, in Jesus Christ we have that savior. Paul wrote to the Romans “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Through the death and resurrection of Christ we now have that savior. It is a savior that is ready to give us rest in our troubled lives: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He is a savior that is offering us peace: “Peace I leave with you, my peace” (John 14:27). He is a savior who is there to comfort the weary when they are afraid in trouble times like these: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Whatever circumstances we are in, we now have a savior that is there for us: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phil. 4:13).
God did not cause the events of this week; they were caused by one man and one sin in the Garden of Eden thousands of years ago but, God is there to bring us through them: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).
Please pray for each and every person affected by hurricane of Katrina. Pray that some who are lost may in these troubled times see a Savior in Jesus Christ.
Bobby Cohoon
3 September 2005
little_sorrel@yahoo.com
bobbycohoon