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We have recently witnessed this past week a calamity that I fear will surpass all others as one of the worse disasters of modern times. When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Louisiana as a strong category 4 hurricane last week, the greatest fears of the region were realized. Now, a week later, they have still not even begun to count the dead, and still have not been able to save all of the survivors. The city is an anarchy with thugs and hoodlums reigning in the streets and with robbing, looting, rape, and suffering the norms. It will be weeks and maybe even months until they are able to pump the flood waters out and breech the levees. After that it will be months and even maybe over a year before they are able to clean the debris and sanitize the city of the diseases and mold which will take over. Then for a building to be saved it will cost so much that it will be more cost effective to just bulldoze them down and start over. And if they do rebuild, then they will be rebuilding into the same circumstances because it would take about two decades and billions of dollars to improve the waterways and pumping systems to avert the disaster's reoccurrence. In short, New Orleans currently ceases to exist as a city, and will never be the same as it was. In one week, God has erased a major city from the map of existence.

Lest I be misunderstood, let me reveal that this disaster has hit very close to home. From age 11 until I left for college, I lived on the north shore of the lake whose waters have poured into the Crescent City. The eye of Katrina passed exactly over our old home and church. My parents -- who were coming here this week for a vacation -- have had to stay behind and they have turned the campgrounds in Alexandria into a Red Cross shelter with at least 600 perfect strangers living there who have nothing except the clothes on their backs and the few belongings that they were able to bring with them in their evacuation. It will be months -- even years -- until they can even think of returning to their home area, and when they do they will return to nothing. Many of them have vowed to never do so.

My wife's grandmother and aunts and uncles live near where I grew up, and as I preach this, we still have not been able to locate them. The area where their house was is under water. They did not evacuate. My inlaws fear the worse.

The closest neighboring church to ours that I grew up in, had just completed their new building, and now it stands in ten feet of water, completely ruined. I have received several frantic phone calls from friends from college who have been unable to get in touch with close friends who ministered and lived in New Orleans. It may be months before we find out what happened to them, if we ever know at all.

Our good friend Mary Morales who lives here in San Antonio, had a moment of relief when her sister who was missing for four days, was rescued from the roof of their home two days ago. They had to spend three days in the attic of their two story home without food or water before climbing out on the roof and getting on a ferry boat that was nearby, and then walking miles to find a phone to call family to come pick them up. Mary had to drive from here to go pick them up because her mother in Alexandria couldn't get gas.

Overnight, Baton Rouge has gone from being the second most populated city in Louisiana into being the most populated and overcrowded in the state. The jobless rate in the state is now at 25%. I shudder to think what the homeless state is. It is likely that after the damage is assessed that the property destruction and number of lives lost will cause this disaster to outweigh the attacks in New York on the World Trade Towers in terms of horror. In other words, this is worse than what took place on September 11th, and yet we must admit that on September 11th, a city was assaulted by terrorists, but this past week, a city was wiped out by God.

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I am not one of those who believe that every unfortunate event is the judgment of God on sin. Saints have bad days too and it rains on the just and the unjust. I believe that many times, we give the devil too much credit for things that are just life in a sinful world. And yet, as I read the accounts of New Orleans, I cannot help but feel that we are witnessing first hand a great judgment of God Almighty upon sin. God knew that this hurricane was coming, and yet He allowed it; even directed it to hit exactly where it did with the force that it did.

With any tragedy, there are many questions asked to God by those affected by the malady. There are many no doubt that throughout this past week, have shaken their fist at the sky and asked why, or cursed God for their misery. Horrible suffering and imperfect conditions reveals the true character of men and women and often causes them to respond in regrettable ways. And yet, their questions are answered by some questions themselves. Through these questions of God, the questions of men are answered. And through them, God is speaking to you and I from New Orleans today. Turn to the book of Amos and let me show you what I mean:

The context for our text in Amos is eerily similar to present day Louisiana. Amos preached to warn of and then to speak about and explain a great devastating earthquake that was sent by God to Israel because of their great sins against Him. Amos 1:1, tells us that the prophet began speaking two years before this great natural tragedy, and by the time we get to the third chapter, Amos is answering the people's responses to the tragedy with questions from God. His response to the great natural disaster sent by God then, is still relevant to great natural disaster recently sent by God now. We begin in our text with the first question:

In other words, if God is holy and people are continuing in great sin, is it no surprise that God ceases to walk with them? Is it not to be expected that if a person continues in willful sin against the great Word of Almighty God that He would withdraw from blessing them and helping them? If a city or area turns thoroughly it's back on God's commandments and daily blasphemes His name, is it not to be expected that God would withhold His provision and protection from them? How many of us would continue to walk hand in hand with someone who with every breath and action attacked and assaulted us? Is it not the same with God? The scripture says:

The nation that chooses the ways of God for their ways will have God walk with them and bless them. But the opposite is also true. After the 9/11 attacks, on national television, Billy Graham's daughter said something to the effect of "why are we surprised that God allowed these attacks to occur, since the 1950s we've been telling God to get out: to get out of our homes, and to get our of our schools, and to get our of our workplaces." She then said "I think God has finally done what we have asked Him to do!" The disaster of this week is the second unprecedented disaster in the last few years on American soil: does that not clue us in as to our standing with God? Could it be that with the rise of immorality and godlessness, that Divine protection that has so been taken for granted in this great country is being lifted?

The prophet Amos had observed that a lion never roars for no reason. What he is saying is that just as a lion always roars with a specific reason so it is with God: when He speaks and acts it is not without cause. If God speaks through blessings, then there is a specific reason for the blessing. Likewise, if God chooses to speak through disaster and judgment, then there is reason for the roar!

In similar fashion Amos asks:

Can a bird fall into a trap, if no trap has been set? Hear this preacher: there is no such god called "chance" or "fortune." The God of the Heavens rules all and is Lord over all. You can take all thoughts of it just being a misfortune or accident or chance occurrence that Hurricane Katrina hit where it did, with the force that it did, and when it did. In talking about natural disasters, Amos said "if there is a snare, then there is one who set the snare." God not only knew that this hurricane was coming, but created it and directed it to do exactly what it did.

Has there not been enough evildoing in New Orleans to provoke God to separate His divine protection from walking with them? Is there not a reason for the roar of the lion of judgment? As someone who lived in an amongst the city for part of my life, I can answer easily, "there is just cause." In fact, of all cities in America, there might not be a city that was a better candidate for the judgment of God against sin, than New Orleans. Observe:

New Orleans was the "voodoo" and "witchcraft" hub of North America. Sorcery and incantations and dark arts were practiced openly there daily. Living near it as Holy Ghost-filled people, my family immediately noticed that the spiritual oppression of the area was so heavy that simply driving a few hours away, would cause "a lifting of heaviness" and we would feel lighter and more happy. Upon returning, there was a noticeable oppression that we felt as we traveled closer to the city. The Bible teaches the principle of evil spirits that rule particular areas, and the spirit of New Orleans is an old and particularly wicked spirit. I should say "was" because now what was the center and headquarters for all filth and wickedness lies in desolation and ruins. In three days, God leveled the headquarters of one of the strongest evil spirits in America.

New Orleans was the promoter and champion of every work of sin. Listen to the list of works of the flesh written by the Apostle Paul and show me one aspect that does not apply to the former city of New Orleans:

Sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery? Is there any other city in the world as sexually impure and immoral as New Orleans? Sexual sin was championed and crusaded day and night on the streets of New Orleans. It is said that you could find any vice of sin imaginable present there.

We've already mentioned the overwhelming presence of witchcraft that was present there, but what about idolatry? The strong Catholic presence of New Orleans combined with all the other made it the worst possible city for idolatry in the world. Daily, the multitudes pray to idols of Jesus and Mary before going off to do their immoral deeds. In Mardi Gras, huge floats depicting heathen gods of the Romans and Greeks are constructed and then the multitudes gather around them in the streets to raise their hands and beg for the only blessing that such fake gods can give: trinkets. "It is nothing," they said, "but harmless fun." But to God Almighty, idols are not nothing, but idols are a reason for judgment. Again I ask is there not a reason for the lion's roar?

Hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, dissensions, factions? Is there not a more prejudiced and divided city than the area of New Orleans? It was divided by economic boundaries, and divided bitterly along the lines of race and history. There are few cities where the racial overtones ran so deep into everyday modern life as the area of New Orleans. We are discussing an area that almost elected a former grand wizard of the KKK to governor ship and did elect him to state legislature again and again. God is not pleased with such hatred and abhors it. Is there not a reason for the lion to roar?

Drunkenness and orgies? Are not these what New Orleans was famous for? The sin of drunkenness which scripture declares will keep you from eternal life, also destroys all sense of morality and right doing and guides a person deeper into sin. Is not such a party lifestyle what New Orleans was known for? And in Mardi Gras, did not the thousands upon thousands come and get drunk and commit all manner of abominations in the streets and then go to a Catholic priest and foolishly believe that a church full of idols and some ashes on their head would okay their actions of the future? I am not the judge of them, but I do ask: does the Lion of the tribe of Judah who is the judge of all the earth, have reason to roar? This tragedy was no accident, but rather the divine hand of God upon a most sinful and wicked city.

In other words, the fowler who is trying to catch a bird, does not remove the trap until he has caught his prey. He does not remove the snare until it has accomplished what it was set to accomplish. One of the questions that is screaming from many of the victims is "how long will this misery last?" And the divine answer from the prophet of God is that "it will last until the purpose of God for which He sent it has been fulfilled!"

Shall the trumpet -- the sound of coming danger -- be blown in the city and the people not be afraid and respond? Has not there been preacher after preacher sent to New Orleans to preach truth and the need for repentance and a Godly lifestyle? Has not many of them prophesied from the very scriptures that we are preaching from that if they did not repent, then they would suffer the judgment of God for their sins? Did not many of the people not respond to the trumpet call from the Word of God? Did not many of them ignore the call of attention to the judgment of God upon their wrongdoing and without any fear of God keep doing them? Now that the trumpet has finished sounded and God has brought evil -- that is, judgment -- upon the city, can any of the sinners ignore His call now? Can any of them just continue on in their comfort zone of sin and ignore the call of God? Can any of them just continue on as normal? Has not God sent the evil to this city!?

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Has not God vindicated every prophet and preacher who dared to tell the truth about the end of the sinful vices and immorality of the preacher? Has not those who brushed aside the fear of God's wrath, now tremble when they think of it? It the Lord who has spoken directly now, and not through a mouthpiece. God has pronounced His judgment upon the sins of this city and the varying and vacillating and reasoning of the pulpits that okayed such actions have been silence, because God has spoken directly through the roar of the lion. And did He not have a just reason?

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The snare will stay until it has fulfilled it's purpose. Let me preach to you about three of the purposes of God of this tragedy. Let me point out scripturally three reasons why this calamity came about, one of which involves you and I.

There is a remarkable similarity between the destruction of New Orleans and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham's time. Sodom was an increasingly wicked city. I want you to understand that we serve a very merciful God. He is a very loving God. He is a very just God. And He is a very patient and long suffering God. He does not immediately bring retribution for every one of our evil deeds, and will often stand back and give us great amounts of undeserved time to repent. The Psalmist said:

The righteous take advantage of this mercy and respond to God's call and Word and repent and cleanse themselves of unrighteousness, but all too often, the unrighteous take God's mercy as permission and His patience in judgment as justification and they take the time of repentance and use it to go deeper into sin.

Hear this preacher today: Despite His longsuffering and great patience, after much time and when it has become obvious that a people or city has decided to spurn that mercy, God will stop sitting idly by and He will extend the hand of judgment and bring upon the people what they have deserved by neglecting Him. The Flood of Noah's day is proof that there is a limit to how much mercy will be extended to an increasing wicked generation!

And the city of Sodom in Genesis is unique because obviously within it was the particular sins and factors that causes God to say "enough is enough" and caused Him to remarkably move against a city and destroy it. Obviously the traits of the city of Sodom were the ones that move God past His great mercy and cause Him to strike the earth with destruction!

What were those traits of Sodom? They are outlined for us in scripture very vividly, and one cannot read about the characteristics of the destroyed city of Sodom without seeing the similarities with the destroyed city of New Orleans. The prophet Ezekiel says and you might want to turn there with me:

Pride ... having lived there I can tell you that there is no area of the country that is so filled with false self-worth than that of the culture of South Louisiana. The creole culture is built on a sinful pride.

Fulness of Bread ... The city of New Orleans was world reknown for it's cooking and gluttonous lifestyle, a trait that it obviously shared with the city of Sodom. The moniker of the foolish rich man "eat, drink, and be merry" could be found all over New Orleans as a theme of lifestyle.

Abundance of Idleness ... The NASBU translates "careless ease." The nickname of New Orleans was "the Big Easy." "Come worry about nothing and have a good time" was it's motto. A trait that it also shared with a city named Sodom.

Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy . . . The sinful lifestyle championed by New Orleans teaches a high for a moment at all cost and leads to poverty and foolish handling of money. Gambling and casinos only drive people further into poverty and does not help them out of it. It is a proven statistic that crime and poverty go up when casinos and legalized gambling come in. There is no better proof of this than the city that used to be New Orleans. It was a trait that she shared with a city called Sodom.

And they committed an abomination before me ... One of the key characteristics of the city of Sodom before God destroyed it was rampant and open homosexuality and abominations. Abominations are sins that God particularly loathes and we find in Deuteronomy 22:5 that it is an abomination for a man to put on a woman's garment, or vice versa. Leviticus 20:13 tells us that it is an abomination for a man to lie with a man as with a woman. Other abominations include witchcraft, prostitution, and cheating people out of money. Romans 1:27 tells us that men leaving the natural use of the woman and burning with lust one to another and women doing the same are "worthy of judgment." Paul writing to the church in Corinth wrote:

Whereas Revelation 21:27 tells us that all that commit abomination will not enter into the heavenly city paved with gold. Sodom's abominations, especially homosexuality, caused God to destroy it with fire.

Labor Day weekend was to be "gay week" in New Orleans. 100,000 homosexuals were scheduled to converge on the city for the weekend and celebrate "their lifestyle." God cancelled it and wiped out the party place. It is interesting that God did it with water and not with fire as Sodom. When God destroyed the entire earth with water in Noah's day, He made a solemn promise never to destroy the whole earth again with water, and the sign of that promise was the rainbow. That symbol, the rainbow, has been taken and perverted into the call sign and emblem of homosexuality and so it is only fitting that God would use water -- the very thing that the rainbow was to represent a promise from the destruction of -- to wipe out the gay weekend and one of their favorite and prominent sites. In modern terms, there are no rainbows over the flood waters of New Orleans today. And in fact the smoke of fires has begun to burn.

What are you saying preacher? The similarities of Sodom and New Orleans show us one purpose of the destruction and that is God was trying to speak loud and clear from the city this past week. God's voice is revealing what He thinks about the sin of homosexuality.

The second and third purposes of the destruction of our modern day Sodom is found in our text in 2 Peter where it says that God:

Lot may have not wanted deliverance, but the destruction of Sodom and it's ceasing to exist delivered him from having to live in such a sinful place. There are many good people today who have lost everything that they owned in the destruction and may never go back, and if they do will go back to a vastly different environment. God views it as having delivered the good people out of the filth of this modern-day Sodom. It may be that one day those good people who are suffering will look back and see what might have been and thank God for getting them out of such a sinful city. It could be that the effect of the sin on their children would have been such that they would have been lost or even the parents themselves would have been lost. And it could be that God destroyed the area with the express purpose of saving the righteous from the effects of living in such a sinful place! It could be that the rise and influence of evil was so great that it was to overtake even the most sincere believers and God -- who will not put more on us than we can bear -- delivered His people by destroying the city and making a way out.

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The calamity will last until the purpose of God is fulfilled and the voice of God has said what it needs to say. It has spoken loudly from New Orleans as to what He thinks about homosexuality. It perhaps has spoken to us about saving the righteous from having to live in such an ungodly environment. And the third purpose is a voice that cries to us here today and is found in our text:

2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

God turned the city of Sodom into ashes "making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly." They are an example that if we ourselves, allow willful sin and abominations to reside in our life day in and day out, that God will have to bring judgment upon us or else repent to Sodom and Gomorrha. You see, the characteristics of New Orleans so closely matched Sodom that if God had not destroyed it, He would have had to repent to Sodom. God is a fair God, and so we should hear the voice of God speaking from New Orleans today: "I will not bless sin, and though I be longsuffering and merciful, if you continue in sinful ways, there will come a day where I will be forced to move against you with horrible judgment." To us today, it is a forewarning. God has given us an example of what we will reap if we continue in sin.

Amos finished his passage by saying this:

God was saying "all you who were just outside the area that I hit with this horrible disaster, gather yourself upon the mountains of Samaria -- come to a place where you can look from above at all the carnage and destruction -- and look from the edge how horrible it is in the middle of the zone."

Look not only at their misery, but what is happening in the aftermath of the destruction. God is saying "look at the people how they turn to violence and robbery." And this confusion will be your end if you live like they do. They are an example of what will come to you if you continue like them in your sin and disregard of my Word.

Hard times do not create character, but rather they reveal it. The anarchy and decay and general turmoil in New Orleans is the end result of a sinful lifestyle. It is the natural response of a people without God's Word at the center of their lives. Heartache and misery is the end of doing things your own way with disregard to God's will. Let the newspapers and reports of New Orleans be a message speaking loud and clear to you as to what will come in your own life if you do not obey God and serve Him.

It may not be in a city but rather in your marriage or future or mental health or job or children, but the end result of sin is death and destruction and turmoil and confusion. Let the voice of God from New Orleans warn you now while there is still time to get things right and live Godly in Christ Jesus. Our excuses don't measure up. We need to purify ourselves from the filth of this world and live for Him!

Once again I read you the NIV version of the verses in Amos:

The Lord has caused it, but with a purpose to speak loudly to all of us today in this generation. The voice of God is crying for New Orleans in every new report and newsflash. We would be wise to heed it.