Local and national news has focused the last few weeks now on the devastation from flooding caused by hurricane Floyd. Areas that never before flooded are under several feet of water. One news segment showed a parking lot where many people parked their vehicles for safety from flooding, only to find them submerged by floodwaters from the hurricane’s effects. Some are claiming these floodwaters are a 500-year flood, coming only once every 500 years. As the clean up begins what can we learn form Floyd’s aftermath?
One important lesson is the limitations of humanity. The weather personal could predict the path Floyd would take, estimate the amount of rainfall the storm would drop on the eastern part of the state, and how high the waters from the storm surge would be, but could do nothing to stop or slow the flood waters as they rose. We cannot control or manage the weather. We can study it, understand it, and predict it, but we are powerless to alter it.
A second lesson is the tremendous power of "nature." As the waters were receding, one local television news crew went out filming the devastation left behind. One shot showed two cars affected by the raging waters. The back tires of one were resting on the trunk of the second. The flood picked up the rear end of the car and dropped it on the other. Another scene showed a pickup truck bed under the corner of a house. Consider the incredible strength of the waters from this small flood. Now think about the effects of the worldwide flood upon the earth.
An important third lesson involves our view of this world. Many people think they are "safe" in their homes. Recent history does not show any flooding here so I will be ok. Some people have lost everything to the flooding. Their homes and possessions are ruined. They do not have adequate insurance so they cannot replace most of what was lost. We must always remember our stay here is temporary, and all physical things in this world are also temporary. Our hope needs to rest upon the Lord - not governments, levees, insurance polices, etc. All of these are important and good, but they cannot replace the Lord and what He offers through His Son.
The last lesson for this article concerns the will of God. We do not understand why God allowed this to happen. But we know He will not do anything that is wrong. We can know this is not punishment for sin. The punishment of sin will take place after this life has ended, not now. He might be using such natural disasters as Floyd to cause people to stop and consider their ways as He did in the Old Testament times. We cannot know this for certain as we have no inspired prophets today to interpret these invents for us. But we certainly can look at what is happening and remember one day we will leave this world. Where are our priorities? Where do we place our trust? How are we living in the present day? As people in the eastern part of the country cleanup from Floyd, they will prepare for the next time. They need to consider the need to prepare for the events after they leave this world. Survivors can prepare for the next time. But spiritually there will not be a second chance to get ready. Are you ready?
Denny