-------New Orleans-------

The devastation and flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina has proven to be and will prove to be the costliest disaster to ever strike the United States. Many people wonder why God would allow things like this to happen if He is such a loving God. They forget that He is also a just God who despises sin and all sin is punished in some manner. Luckily for the human race, Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sin so that we wouldn't have to receive that punishment. However, there is a condition to this pardon. You have to accept it willingly.

What does scripture tell us about nations who reject God? God used Israel as an example of what happens when a nation turns to idols (which, in reality, is demon worship) and false gods instead of putting their faith in the one true God. God said in Deut.32:20 that 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith.

Has the United States become a perverse generation? Is their faith to be found in the United States? This country was founded on the freedom to worship God in the manner you thought best. Our government is based on biblical principles. Has this changed? What has happened in the last 40 years?

Prayer has been banned in schools because "it might offend someone". We have murdered millions of innocent children by giving mothers the right to play God and call it freedom of choice. Sex outside of marriage is rampant which has caused the destruction of the family unit. There is a push in this nation to accept the lifestyles of homosexual men and women as being "normal" which God calls an "abomination". Violent crime is getting worse and worse. There is a move to rid all references to God in our pledges and on our money. Language that used to be banned on public airwaves is no longer considered taboo but "freedom of speech". Why is it okay to blaspheme the name of God on tv and radio yet toilet words are removed? Has the United States become a perverse generation?

Why does this country try to teach evolution but will not tolerate the teaching of creation? Luckily for this country, there are still many who have put their faith and trust in God which is the reason it has enjoyed such prosperity.

Was New Orleans a perverse city? Every year they have a festival called Mardi Gras. This is nothing more than an annual drunken orgy. There was a gay rally to be held in New Orleans but the flood stopped that from happening. New Orleans is known as a "party city" but many of its residents lived in extreme poverty. The mayor blasphemed the name of God on public television after the flood which, I believe, reflected the true spirit of this city. Most of the big cities in our country are very perverse which means they all await judgment.

Everyone in the United States has been affected in some way by this disaster. Gas prices have skyrocketed which will drive up the costs of all other goods and services. American hating terrorists have seen how woefully inadequate we are in the handling of a disaster of such magnitude. They are now drawing up plans to bring down our country.

Jesus Christ is coming back to set up His kingdom on Earth. Before that happens, all sin (which is rebellion against God) will have to be dealt with. The flooding of New Orleans, last year's tsunami, and the increased frequency of superstorms is the tip of the iceberg as to what the Bible tells us is coming.

Where was God in the middle of this disaster? It was Satan who was responsible for the hurricane but it is God who allows Satan to do his work. God uses Satan to test the faith of His people as He did Job. If we stay true to our faith, then He will reward us greatly as He did Job after his time of testing.

I have seen much evidence of God's divine protection during the flooding of New Orleans. The weather has been hot and dry every day since Hurricane Katrina passed through. This has allowed officials to evacuate the city, repair the levee, and begin the process of rebuilding. Had a normal storm front came through after Katrina, many more lives would have been lost.

The city was also warned by the weather service that a major storm was headed their way and they needed to get out of harm's way. Many people heeded that warning. Many died because they did not heed the warning.

Many who were living in extreme poverty could not leave and lost their homes. After being evacuated from the city, they were asked if they would move back. Their answer was very sobering. Go back to what? They didn't have anything to go back to and in fact had received more kindness and goods than they had ever received in New Orleans. For some, the disaster was a blessing in disguise. It sounds like this city suffered from a lack of hospitality. God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah for their lack of hospitality not because of their homosexuality.

Another reason the disaster struck the United States is their support of the pullout in the Gaza strip in Israel. Israel is God's land and the Jews are the ones He has chosen to occupy that piece of real estate. Why is the Arab world so jealous of a piece of real estate no bigger than the state of New Hampshire when they have the rest of the Middle East to call home? Satan wants Israel destroyed but God will not allow that to happen. All nations who burden themselves with Israel brings down God's wrath and judgment. God says in His word that Israel is His land and no nation has the right to divide or part His land. We see that happening in these "land for peace" deals which are really pacts with the devil.

God tells us in Joel 3:2 2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.

God tells us that all nations will be gathered against Israel and He will judge them. He tells us "they divided up My land". A study of Ezekiel 38 and 39 tells us that Russia and all the surrounding nations will attack Israel to "take a spoil" but God destroys them completely sparing only 1/6 of that attacking army. Israel is destined to become a super wealthy nation which about guarantees that they will find a motherlode of oil. The United States would make them rich.

When the twin towers of the world trade center was destroyed, it was because we had taken part in a "land for peace" deal with Israel. New Orleans happened because we have become a perverse nation and haven't heeded God's warning to not "part His land". If the United States wants to continue to receive God's blessing they must turn to Him in their time of need and they need to support Israel not curse them with their pressure to give up land for peace.

New Orleans was a warning. The next disaster will be far worse if we don't heed that warning.

Copyright 2005 by Gary Goodworth