December 11
Amos 4:1-6:14 | PS 130:1-8 | Prov 29:21-22 | Rev 2:18-3:6
It is easy to forget that the One True God is immutable, or unchanging. God is the same in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and in the present. His plan doesn't change, nor does His methods. In fact, He is always just, always loving, and always right. When Jesus illuminates what we are to expect in Matthew 24, we would do well to read this not as a prophetic timetable, but as from the heart of God. We read of the times we are in, by Jesus, in Matthew 24:6-8, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." We should not simply read a list like this, and place a check mark as we see them happening. God is never arbitrary. Just as He did through the prophets long ago, He will send wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, etc. not to punish, but to wake people up. to have them turn to Him before it is too late.
We read in Amos 4:6-11, "“Also I gave you cleanness of teeth (or hunger (my words)) in all your cities, And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I also withheld rain from you,...Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards, Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; Your young men I killed with a sword,...Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord." God did not send these disasters on Israel on a whim, or out of anger, but out of love. He wanted them to return to Him, and they simply would not listen, no matter what He sent upon them. We read in Ezekiel 33:11, "Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’" God goes on in Amos 5-6, to explain that He is not fooled by pretense or shows of religiosity. He knows the hearts and motives of all. He explains that there will be those who believe they are above it all, due to position, wealth, etc. But they will by no means escape God's judgment. No amount of preparation will protect them.
We read in Psalm 130:3-4, "If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared." We are sinners. This is simply a fact. I often state that Satan does not change his playbook. The same sins that worked against Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden are just as effective now in the 21st century. They may look different, but they are the same old sins. God, also does not change His playbook. He is fair and just. We cannot even fathom the depths of his love for us. We are as stubborn as mules. He will do everything He can in His righteousness to call each of us to repentance. It might require the death of a loved one, a "natural" disaster, an illness, a situation, etc. Realize, rather than asking, "Why God?", open your eyes and realize that God is calling you. Will you avail yourself to His loving hand, for it is indeed loving. Repent now, and know what it is to become His child.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: