We spent a few days of our vacation in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city is known for great food, Jazz music, voodoo, drinking and sin. Why would we purposely go to that city of sin? Our Pastor even warned us of the in-your-face sin he saw there, before he was saved. To add some context, my wife wanted to tour a plantation and taste some of their world-famous food. We knew about the reputation of the French Quarter, but on-line reviews said we could avoid problems by not going out at night. We go to bed with the chickens, so that wasn’t a problem.
My family went out to eat at a nice Cajun restaurant the first night, but there wasn’t enough room in the van for me. I missed the plantation tour the next day, also because there weren’t enough seats on the tour bus. My wife said I was “gleeful” to stay behind and rest after ten days of “vacation.” They enjoyed the breathtakingly beautiful Oak Alley plantation.
We all went on the City Bus Tour the next day as a tropical storm passed through. The tour guide took us through the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, but it didn’t look like the brochure pictures. There were high-end hotels squeezed in beside famous restaurants and gaudy bars. Maybe the rain kept them inside, but the only immodestly dressed women I saw were tourists. The tour guide told tales of the resilience of the local residence as they battled storms, floods, fire and disease. They kept rebuilding their homes, businesses and their lives on the limited available space. Many of the small homes reminded me of tiny houses or house trailers.
Most of New Orleans is below sea level and when the pumps and levees fail, people die and property is destroyed. Why didn’t they move to higher ground after being flooded out so many times? When fire and disease ravaged their city, couldn’t they find a place where they weren’t so tightly packed together? I admire their spirit, but wonder why they keep doing the same thing in the same place, in spite of the disasters. Sadly, they stayed and endured even more misery.
Is it surprising that the “Big Easy” suffers under the rule of the “the thief, who comes only to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10)? Maybe, the people should “humble themselves, seek GOD’s face, turn from their wicked ways so GOD can heal their land” (II Chron 7:14)? Perhaps they should put away their Voodoo and rely on GOD who loves them (John 3:16)! They should, but they have been blinded by sin. But GOD’s grace is New Orleans too! Why can’t they stay there? “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
The rest of the world is doing the same thing. The “thief” continues to “steal, kill and destroy” but they stay where they are, doing what is causing their misery. Why don’t they move up to higher ground and leave behind the sin that is destroying them? Why didn’t they try something else after their sin wiped them out? The world tells them to keep trying and it will turn out fine, but they are heading for eternal death! They cling to their gods that don’t work and religion that only covers the sin that is killing them! Can’t GOD fix them where they are? GOD forbid! The LORD said “come out from among them, and be ye separate” (2 Cor 6:17 KJV). I left that place of “stealing, killing and destruction” and ran to the loving arms of JESUS, and so can you! Do I want to go back there? GOD forbid!
Wayne Lance