Service of Prayer--Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran—September 25, 2005
Reading 1 Luke 13:1-9 Disaster Reminds Us to Repent
Four Sermonettes
Those of you who lived through World War II may remember worse suffering and pain. But in my lifetime, I’ve
never seen such a series of events as we’ve witnessed in the past four years. Almost 3,000 died at the hands
of terrorists on 0/11/01. It was the worst act of terrorism ever committed on US soil. It was the acts of sinful,
hating men, but God could have stopped the destruction. He reminds that by telling us “Is there evil in a city,
and I have not done it?”
Then there was the Asian tsunami at the end of last year. What destruction! What loss of life—almost 300,000
died! Make no mistake about it. Commentators can talk about the destructive power of Nature. We know that
power is God’s.
And three weeks ago, the first evacuation of an entire, American metropolis—and then the levees broke and
New Orleans was destroyed. The totals of the dead are over 1,000 and still climbing maybe as high as 10,000.
Sometimes a Christian wants to ask God, “Why?” “Why did you send such destructive power to New York City.
Asia, New Orleans, and the Gulf?” If we have relatives or friends who live in the Gulf, or if we were among
those mourning family and friends who lost their lives in that Level Five hurricane, I suspect we’d be asking
those questions with much, much more emotion—maybe even with a challenge in our voice, shaking our fists,
angry at God.
God doesn’t have to answer for His actions to His creatures. He is God. He made us. He made the world. He
can do what He wants to His creation. That was His answer to Job when Job started challenging God about
the pain and suffering He’d sent into Job’s life. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Can you
bring out the constellations in their seasons? Can you make rain, or comprehend t how I bring rain? How dare
you question me with your puny mind!
He doesn’t owe us explanations, but in His love and mercy He gives them anyway. Notice I said explanations.
Unless we are an inspired prophet with specific revelations from God about a particular calamity God has sent,
we have to go to God’s Word and get general answers as to why God sends disasters. Today, we’ll look at four
reasons God sends disasters like Katrina.
The first reason God sends disaster is because Disaster Reminds Us to Repent. For our explanation, we
travel back about 6,000 years to a beautiful garden, the scene of a disaster leading to untold suffering. When
Adam and Eve sinned against God, Noah’s flood, 9/11s, Tsunamis, and Hurricane Katrinas breached the
levees holding them back.
“In the day you eat of it, you will surely die.” Death entered the world because of sin. God in His love found
a way to counteract sin and its effects when He planned and promised the coming of His son, Jesus, the Seed
of the Woman, to suffer and die. That promise was made in the Garden. Adam and Eve believed the promise.
When they died some 900 years later, they went to live with God forever in sinless glory. Sin and death’s
effects were nullified.
But right after the Fall, God told Eve she would suffer pain in childbirth and pain in her relationship to her head,
her husband. God told Adam he would have trouble making a buck and feeding His family. He told them both
they would still die—even though they would live in heaven and live again physically at the resurrection.
Why did God give them all that suffering if He loved them and forgave them? Just because He loved them and
forgave them.
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Every pain, every burden, every sickness, every difficulty on the job, in the family, and in the relationships
between a sinful man and his sinful wife is a loud reminder from God that we are sinners in a sinful world. And
we need to repent of our sins.
Like the polluted water of New Orleans—filled with human waste and toxic chemicals which kill and destroy,
we have polluted our lives with sin. We deserve to die for our sinful hearts and original sins. We deserve to die
for the actual sins our sinful hearts produce. And we will die. But God gives us a way to turn death into
victory—to escape the stench and waste of our sinful condition and the actual sins we commit in our minds,
tongues, and acts.
Hurricane Katrina and its destruction shouts to sinful America (and the rest of the world), “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Like Noah’s Flood, this recent flood says to me and our world: “Repent while
it is still time! I’ve given your nation 229 years. How have you repaid me? With abortion, violence, crime,
materialism, sexual immorality, homosexuality, broken marriages, living for pleasure, pornography, gross
entertainment, staying away from church in droves each week. You live for pleasure and not for me. You follow
false gods, deny I created you, and pretend you can sin against me with impunity.”
Were the people of New Orleans worse sinners than you and I are? Be careful. While it is true God could have,
and probably did send Katrina to New Orleans because of sin and unbelief there—a city known for its
immorality, God warns us it is not our place to judge them.
Noah and his family were believers. Although they were saved graciously in the Great Flood, they still suffered
for the 120 years leading up to the Flood, for the year of confinement in the Ark, and no doubt in the total
rebuilding years immediately after they left the Ark. No doubt many fine Christians suffered the loss of family,
homes, possessions, health, and maybe their lives in the Gulf. I’m convinced many Christians, far more faithful
and stronger in faith and love than I, have suffered through Hurricane Katrina. And they will continue to suffer.
Who am I to judge them?
Job’s friends false accused him of secret sins—otherwise why would God have sent such suffering and
judgments to him. But they were wrong. God wasn’t chastising Job for any sins he needed to repent of. He was
giving Job an opportunity to show his faith and be strengthened in his faith.
Job’s friends false accused him of secret sins—otherwise why would God have sent such suffering ---and still
she had to suffer. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego suffered because of the Babylonian Captivity—
though they were believers who were willing to serve God even if it would mean death.
Jesus was reminded about Galileans killed by Pilate—right at the Temple where they worshiped. Jesus says it
wasn’t because they were worse sinners than others. Then Jesus asked his audience about the 18 victims
killed when the tower of Siloam fell. Was that because of they were horrific sinners?
Jesus answered his question with a resounding “No!’ In those two cases God’s purpose in taking lives was to
call each one of us to repentance. He used the picture of a three-year-unproductive tree given one more
chance to bear fruit. The only way sinners bear fruit is to repent of their sins and take the full, free forgiveness
of sins God offers us in the cross of Jesus by faith.
God sent wars, invaders, plagues, and floods on those who turn their back on Him. When He does, He is not
only judging and punishing some of His enemies—sending them to hell. When God used Israel to end the
Canaanite tribes control of the Holy Land, He was blessing His people, but at the same time letting the land
vomit out those whose sins stunk to high heaven. He was shouting to Israel as He blessed them, to repent
daily of their sins, lest the land vomit them out also. He is shouting to each sinner who hears about the Gulf
disaster, “What about you? What about your sin? Have you acknowledged your sins to me? Do you realize
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what you deserve for what you’ve done? Are you sorry for grieving me and wounding me and offending me,
and forgetting about me?”
Nehemiah gives us a model. Notice how he confesses the sins of his nation. Notice how he includes himself as
a contributor, a participant in those sins.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great
trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned
with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and
prayed before the God of heaven.
5 Then I said: “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of
love with those who love him and obey his commands,
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before
you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites,
including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.
7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and
laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will
scatter you among the nations,
9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the
farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a
dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and
your mighty hand.
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your
servants who delight in revering your name.
Did Katrina produce that response in you? Did you confess your sins, too, or only think about how wicked the
people on Bourbon Street and the French Quarter behave at Mardi Gras? Did you ask, “Forgive the sins of
America?” And when you did, did you say “We” have sinned, or “they” have sinned? When you see the next
pictures of the effects of this hurricane, tellGod about the destruction your sin has caused, the death you
deserve to die. Don’t point to the wicked people of New Orleans, but at the wicked sinner you face in the
mirror.
Reading 2 Matt. 24:3-14 Disaster Readies Us for the End of the World
When God sends disasters like Katrina He has another purpose—related to the first purpose—calling people to
repent. He also sends disaster to remind people Judgment Day is coming soon.
Leaves turning color, leaves dropping off hardwood trees, and cooler temperatures tell us winter will soon be
here. They tell us to get prepared: find the winter coat, hat, gloves, and boots. See if we need a new snow
shovel, salt and sand for our driveways, check the anti-freeze in our car, repair the insulation of our doors and
windows, and decide whether the tires on our car will have enough traction to move on snow-covered streets.
We see signs; we know what’s coming. We have time to get ready. We better get ready.
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Every flood says Judgment Day is coming. Such floods wouldn’t have happened in a sinless world.
Someday all people will have to stand before the Holy Judge.
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Every war like Iraq or Afghanistan reminds us sinners, who’ve declared war on God, will have to give
account at the tribunal of their war crimes.
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Every person who has persecuted God’s people—like today in N. Korea, China, and most fundamental
Moslem countries , will stand before the Father, brother, and comforter of those believers and face the
One who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord.”
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Every false prophet and false Christ will stand before the fiery, penetrating eyes of the one who is
Truth. They will face charges of corrupting and leading people to their eternal death with lies.
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Every deserter from the faith will find out that choosing to give his allegiance to Satan was the worst
mistake he or she ever made.
The events disasters we see teach us. They are to keep us awake and alert. They scream to us: Judgment is
coming soon! Jesus tells us not to be alarmed or overcome by fear when we see such disasters and the
suffering they bring—even to believers. Don’t lose heart. Don’t give up. God’s Word is true. God will preserve
you. They may look like they are winning—but they are not! Your Savior is in command. He is really ruling all
events. And you are ruling with him—even it it doesn’t seem like it or look like it. It will all become obvious
soon, when Judgment Day comes.
Surviving a disaster is a blessing. Standing firm to the end—by relying on the promises of God’s Word—is a
greater blessing.
And every disaster reminding us Judgment Day is coming soon should speed us up—make us more dedicated
in our mission until He comes: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Let it sound like this in our stream of consciousness when we see another broadcast or read another article
about Katrina. Katrina. Disaster. End Coming. Hold on! Get more people the gospel soon.
Reading 3 John 14:1-6 Disaster Awakens Longing For Heaven
One of the most touching aspects of Katrina’s destruction is the loss of people’s homes. After being rescued
from death by drowning, after securing enough food to stay alive, the next major concern of Katrina’s victims is
shelter. Where can I live for a few days? Where can I find housing until my home is repaired, rebuilt, or until I
can find another permanent home to protect me from the elements, and keep my family and possessions safe.
Finding shelter is a crucial need, and always has been. For most of us in the climates we live, living outdoors is
not an option. Facing the loss of homes and possessions—and facing the daunting task of rebuilding or
replacing what they had, some have given up and taken their own lives.
A Christian couple from Slidell had it figured out. Standing next to their destroyed home and possessions they
had a sign: “This pile of stuff was not our life. Our life is hid in Christ.”
To people shaken to the core by disasters like Katrina and the Asian tsunami, to those grieved by their sin and
guilt, to those hurt by other sinners, to those afraid to die in a disaster, or afraid to face the Judge on Judgment
Day, Jesus has words of comfort.
He’s got ample room—big beautiful mansions of room ready and waiting for each of us in heaven. No pile of
wind tossed lumber and saturated drywall. No cramped, unsanitary, temporary shelter in the Superdome. No
sharing tiny bedrooms, no huge mortgages, no leaky toilets, rat infestation, no maintenance bills or weekends
of scraping and painting. No real estate taxes, greedy landlords, late payments, eviction notices. Ample room.
Many mansions. Free. All free. Lasting through eternity.
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And best of all, is the company. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to
be with me that you also may be where I am.” Ample room. Many mansions. Living with our beloved
bridegroom Jesus.
One reason God sends disasters or any suffering is so that we long for heaven. This is not our final
destination. God doesn’t want us to act like it is or settle in like it is. This world is like traveling through a foreign
on our way home.
The people in New Orleans were begging rescuers, “Take us! Let us in the boat! Let us get on the bus! Let
us in the shelter!” Our cry as we see each disaster in this sinful world should be: “Take us home, Lord.
Rescue us, Lord. Give us shelter in the mansions you are preparing for us.”
Jesus told us how to get there. He told Thomas, “You know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said he
didn’t know where Jesus was going or the way to get there.
Thanks be to God, you know where Jesus has gone and where you are going. You know the way to heaven is
by the greatest gift ever given. It’s only through Jesus. For the flood victims in New Orleans, only the rescuers
could save their lives. For us, only Jesus can save our souls
When you see devastation of Hurricane Katrina it’s OK to think, “What suffering and pain this sinful world
brings. Lord, take me home, soon. I know you are the only way to eternal life.”
Reading 4 Matthew 25:31-40 Disaster Spurs to Love and Good Deeds
In the past two weeks Congress has passed legislation earmarking $68 billion to rebuild New Orleans and the
Gulf region. It’s expected to rise to $100 billion! That is the amount spent each year on the war in Iraq. Its twice
as much as America spends each year to operate all its colleges and universities. It is about 1/18 of our annual
spending for the whole federal government! And, Americans will pay for that tremendous amount in one of
several ways: increased taxes, increased cost of everything we buy due to printing more money—inflation, or
possibly—and I’ll have to see this to believe it—through reducing other government services already approved.
Americans have been a very generous people. In addition to what we will give through our taxes or inflation,
many, many Americans are giving to Hurricane Katrina victims as never before. The stories of even little
children sacrificing to give are heartwarming and inspiring. Some are giving or raising money, some are
sending food, clothing and building material, some are opening their homes to evacuee families, some have
gone or will go to that area to be part of the rescue and rebuilding effort.
If Katrina hadn’t happened, these acts of kindness and love would not have taken place. Disaster Spurs to
Love and Good Deeds.
I’m sure Katrina victims appreciate any kind act anyone does for them. They don’t ask someone willing to help
about the person’s motives or spiritual condition. But Jesus does.
Jesus said on Judgment Day loving acts and good deeds done by believers will be publicized as clear-cut
evidence Christians knew and believed in Him. When an unbeliever does an act of charity, since it is not done
for Christ in faith, it is not really a good work. It may look the same as the good work a Christian does, but it is
not the same. In fact, Hebrews tells us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Do victims benefit
from kind acts of unbelievers? You bet. Do we want unbelievers to stop doing kind, generous things? No. God
uses their kind acts too to benefit people, including believers.
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But when disaster strikes Christians should, and often do, lead in generosity. Listen to stories of how many
churches and Christians organizations are involved in making life better for Katrina victims. When the Good
Samaritan found the man robbed and beaten on the way to Jericho, he took time to help him. He risked
discomfort and danger to help him. He used his money to help him.
James warns us not to tell people who are cold to trust God and be warm, or tell starving people trust God and
be fed. That kind of “faith” James says, is “faith” without works. James says that “faith” is dead—or at least
very, very weak. Tell them to trust God and then clothe and feed them. One reason God gives a dollar more
than you need is so you can do something good with it—or at least part of it.
Jesus tells us the kind of things we can do with that extra buck: feed, clothe, give something to drink, take in
the stranger, care for the sick, aid the prisoner.
Notice: the righteous praised by Jesus are surprised when He points out their good works. They didn’t do them
to buy Jesus love and favor or a trip to heaven. They weren’t counting them up like scalps or trophies to boast
about. They loved Jesus. They saw hurting people. And they gave and did something about those hurts. And
Jesus was pleased and praised them.
What you do for the poor evacuees of New Orleans and the Gulf, you do for Jesus. He will be well pleased if
you do them because you believe in him.
Who knows how much Christians will give? Who knows how much the people of our synod have given and will
give? Who knows what you have already given and done or plan to do willingly, how many prayers you have
said for the people of New Orleans. God knows!
Next month we will have a dinner to benefit relative members of Mount Olive who have suffered loss through
this disaster. It is another opportunity to show love for the Savior. If you have already given or are not able to
give, that is between you and God. But may we never see others suffering, have the resources from God to
help, and pass by on the other side selfishly like the priest and Levite passed by the man on the road to
Jericho.
So when we understand God and his purposes better, we can actually thank God for Hurricane Katrina. We
have only covered four reasons God sends disasters like Katrina. There are others, like strengthening our faith
through suffering and equipping us to comfort others. We thank God He sent Katrina, and other disasters.
Through them He reminds us to repent, readies us for the end of the world, awakens a longing for heaven,
and spurs to love and good deeds.
Yes, thank you, God, for Hurricane Katrina! Amen.
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