Katrina: Who Is to Blame?
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31)
When hurricane Katrina’s storm surge broke through the levee and flooded New Orleans, a few years ago, devastating the city, who was to blame? The engineers who designed the levee? The individuals who built their homes, businesses and dreams on land that was subject to massive flooding? The federal government for not making the city safe against a level 5 storm? The local government for not ordering a general evacuation earlier?
Blame is a heavy load to carry, and apparently there was enough of it to go around for the devastation which occurred in New Orleans. It is an all-too-human trait to want to pass blame around as much as possible in deep hardships, but the question of who to assign blame to for the destruction may not have a simple solution.
Here is another question which is far more important than any question concerning Katrina could ever be: When a soul dies without having turned to God in repentance, who is to blame for the misery it will have for all eternity? Does it make sense to place blame on any of the following? Education systems that exclude the concept of a Creator God? Families that fail to impress on young minds that every human being is ultimately responsible to God for their actions? The giant entertainment industry that seeks to keep minds so absorbed that they have no time for serious thoughts about eternity? A culture permeated by an atheistic worldview?
These things are all sadly true, but the responsibility to receive Christ as Savior rests forever with each person. Even though all these things are stacked against it, God has given clear and plentiful witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior men need. From glory He came to be born as a man on earth. In His life He clearly fulfilled distinct, remarkable, and innumerable Old Testament prophecies. His teachings were with words of matchless love, grace, and power. God confirmed the message of the Lord Jesus through the miracles He performed. Of all men who ever lived, His words alone perfectly matched His deeds and life.
After three and a half years of ministering to the needs of those around Him, He let Himself be taken and nailed to the cross. His sacrifice is the greatest act of love the world will ever know. He is now seated at God’s right hand in heaven. He will come back to earth in judgment, but before then, during the time of His absence, He is calling souls from this sinful world to believe on Him and receive the gift of eternal life.
Men nailed the Lord Jesus Christ to a cross of shame to get rid of Him. But God raised Him to the highest place in heaven. His name is now far higher than any other. He is the One that sinners must look to if they hope to be saved and go to heaven. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). He is the One—the only One—who brings life to the world. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men…I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 1:4; 10:28).
The word “responsible” means “able to respond.” Every member of the human race is able to respond to His love. If they choose never to do so, they alone will bear the blame and consequences of their decision forever. They are completely without excuse if they never come to Him.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved……” (Acts 16:31)
What is your RESPONSE?
