It can be quite a shock to some people who have hoped for and expected a certain thing, and then it turns out to be quite the opposite. Imagine desiring a certain job or career, thinking that if only you could work doing such and such a thing, or for this or that company, and you get that job, only to find that your life is more miserable than it had ever been. Or you desire to go on vacation to a certain location, save up the money, and then go, only to be extremely disappointed in the place. Maybe you meet someone, thinking they are the man or woman of your dreams, you marry them, and then they become your worst nightmare! Our Scripture today from the Prophet Amos speaks of some people who are looking forward to a certain day, a certain time, thinking it will be great for them, when in reality it will be just the opposite.
The prophet Amos had a brief public ministry, from approximately 760 - 755 BC, during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel. Though he lived in the Kingdom of Judah, Amos primarily directed his messages to the northern Kingdom of Israel. Prior to the Lord calling him into his brief preaching ministry, Amos had been a sheep herder and also grew sycamore figs. Then the Lord took him away from that for a short while, as He had a message He wanted to be given to the people.
As our Scripture opens, Amos speaks of the Day of the Lord. Several prophets spoke of the Day of the Lord, such as in Joel 2:1-2 and Zephaniah 1:14-16. In the Old Testament Scriptures, the Day of the Lord refers to the future day of God’s judgment. It is the time when God will show Himself the Victor over the world, vindicating His claims to be the Lord over all the earth.
The people of Israel spoke of the Day of the Lord with great anticipation, as they thought it would bring great blessings from the Lord for themselves, but would be a terrible time for other nations, and not for them. They thought it would bring an end to their troubles, and that the Lord would really kick their enemies.
However, Amos had news for those who thought about the Day of the Lord that way. It is true that when the Lord Jesus returns, it will be a glorious day for believers, for those who are saved and following Him. But for those who don’t, for the unsaved it will be a day of darkness and doom. Those who have never turned to the Lord, for those who mock Him and His Word, it will be a time of judgment, punishment, wrath, and justice.
Many of those in Amos’ day who were so looking forward to the Day of the Lord were religious folk. Yet God said to them that He hated their religious rituals they went through, did not like their worship songs, and did not accept their offerings (vs. 21-23). The reason was that it was all empty religious motions. The people went through all of these rituals but their hearts were not in it. They acted religious, but they were not truly saved. God hates false worship by people who go through the motions out of pretense or show, who do these acts to make themselves look good. God wants sincere hearts, not hypocrisy. If performed with corrupt hearts, even our religious ceremonies and our offerings will be despised by the Lord.
The Old Testament prophets were not the only ones to speak about the coming Day of the Lord. The Apostle Peter also spoke of it in II Peter 3:9-13. He speaks of it as the day when the Lord Jesus will return at His Second Coming. And with this in mind, Peter admonishes us to live holy lives, knowing that He could return at any moment. For those who are truly living for the Lord, that will be a time of rejoicing. However, what will happen to those who think themselves safe, but who have not examined their own lives? For people who refuse to repent, they will be destined for doom.
When the Day of the Lord does come, and one day it surely will, which side will you find yourself? Examine your heart and life. Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and are you living for Him? Or is your religious activity just empty rituals, and nothing more? Turn to Jesus now, for when that day arrives, it will be too late!
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