Overwhelmed

The destruction of ancient boundaries

This past week has demonstrated what happens when a system of levees and pumps designed to keep New Orleans dry are comprised by a relentless and unstoppable force called Katrina. The complex system of levees and pumps, the largest of its kind in the world, have protected the city for many years. New Orleans is on average six feet below sea level, and every drop of water that comes into the city has to be pumped out. The levee walls, 13-25 foot high, have protected New Orleans over the years; providing safety from the ravages of flood waters.

That is, until last Tuesday. The 17th Street Canal levee was compromised and water from Lake Pontchartrain began to pour into residential areas that were unprepared for the devastation that was to follow. At times, the destruction was almost unbearable to watch. Disbelief was quickly followed by shock, anger and panic. A sense of utter hopelessness and despair began to set in as we witnessed a city descend into anarchy.

And today, almost one week later, the Associated Press reports: "The last bedraggled refugees were rescued from the Superdome on Saturday and the convention center was all but cleared, leaving the heart of New Orleans to the dead and dying, the elderly and frail stranded too many days without food, water or medical care. A once-vibrant city of 480,000 people, overtaken just days ago by floods, looting, rape and arson, was now an empty, sodden tomb."

As painful as it was to watch the failure of the levee walls, it was even more troubling to watch the collapse of moral law. Just as the levee walls provide protection from the ravages of flood waters; so too, God’s Word provides moral boundaries that protect us from the depravity of the human heart. Genesis 6:8 says that “the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”

The physical and moral devastation of New Orleans is a reminder of the condition of the human heart apart from God. Our rebellion against God and His rule of law has opened the floodgates of wickedness. God gave us His Word for our protection and moral good. The psalmist said, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Hurricane-like, cultural and political winds have sought to remove the ancient, restraining boundaries of absolute truth from the public square. And we are paying the price as a society.

New Orleans gave us a glimpse of a city and a soul overcome and overwhelmed by the destructive forces of nature and human nature. The images on our television screen were painful to see. A city overpowered and brought to its knees by the destruction of its ancient boundaries.

It was painful this week to look at the depths of the sinfulness of my heart. To see the devastation and destruction caused by my rebellion and sin. It was painful to realize that my depravity grieves and breaks the heart of God. It was painful to see the secret thoughts and intentions of my heart projected onto living room television screens around the world. It was painful to realize that my breaking of God’s moral law prompted the creator of the world to send his only Son on a rescue mission that cost him his life. This past week I have been overwhelmed with a sense of God’s holiness, mercy and grace.