"Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (Amos 4:12). Why did God send the prophets to His people? Every prophet tells the message a little different but that message is the same - repent or face the wrath of God! Over and over that message is presented to God's people to save them from destruction that was coming. God's longsuffering and love are clearly evident with the passionate pleas of these prophets. Alas, this plea fell on deaf ears, God's longsuffering came to an end and they were destroyed as a nation and placed in captivity - first Israel into Assyria and then Judah into Babylon.
We read their story and feel amazed how many chances the people of God rejected. How could they do it? All the evidence of His love, power, and wrath they had personally witnessed before and during the pleas of these prophets - why did they fail to act? One must reach the conclusion they did not believe God would destroy them. After all, Israel was His chosen people, He loved them and He cared for them. It was unconceivable to them He would really ever destroy them. Yet, that is exactly what He did!
Now before you feel so sorry about those folks of days gone by - what about people today? People today are still rejecting the pleas of God's messengers to repent or accept the terrible consequences of being caught unprepared. Please consider...
Death and judgment are certain. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:27-28). All men will die and face the Lord in judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences" (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Uncertainty of death is evident around us. The graveyards are full of folks who never thought they would get there so soon. All who have left this life have one thing in common - they understand clearly the words of the Hebrew writer - death is coming! God had given judgment over to the Son and ordained a day He will judge all men, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
There will be only ONE standard. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). Despite modern teaching and opinion, God's word will be the only standard that our lives will be measured by. "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:12). Please understand, it won't be any human wisdom or opinion that will be used as a standard - the pure word of truth - nothing else! Unfortunately, the majority of the world believes that as long as their service to God was offered with love and sincerity it will be accepted. True, we must offer our lives in love and sincerity, but it will be in vain if not mixed with the truth of His holy and divine word!
Dear reader, we have the same opportunity that those of old had. It's time to get ourselves prepared for that final meeting with our Lord. Choices, decisions and priorities have to be made by each of us. Yet, please remember that each of those things have consequences attached to them. Amos' words of old keep ringing in our ears - what about you friend? Have you made the necessary preparations in your life to "face the Lord" in final judgment?
- The Harrodsburg Reminder, 9/20/15