THE prophet Amos pronounces woe to them that are at ease in Zion, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph (chs. 6:1-6), This history repeats itself. The world loves ease, but is not grieved in spirit for the affliction of Jesus. Amos describes Israel’s state and conduct, which sets forth graphically man’s course today without Christ.
Seven things are said of them: ―
Ye that put far away the evil day,
And cause the seat of violence to come near;
That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches,
And eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
They chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;
That drink wine in bowls,
And anoint themselves with the chief ointments, but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
These seven things, which characterize the world in general, may be summed up under the following heads: ―Closing our eyes to the threatened judgment of God; the promotion of violence; ease and laziness; luxury and feasting; indulgence in music; drinking; and perfumery. All who indulge in these things are following what the apostle calls “the course of this world” (Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)). Christ the Son of man, who had not where to lay His head in this world (Matt. 8:2020And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)), is forgotten. Though His name is professed by many, His claims are ignored, and there is no grief for the afflictions and sorrows of the Son of the Blessed. Men have committed a breach upon Him. The world spat in His face and crucified Him. And tens of thousands celebrate His birth with feasting, completely oblivious that they form part of that world which has yet to answer for the awful deed before God, of plotting for His death.
If you, dear reader, desire to be shut out from the glory of God, and the company of Christ, the sure way is to follow the course of Israel as described by Amos. Close your ears and heart to the gospel, put off the day of the reckoning of your soul with God, continue to do violence to your conscience in refusing to bow to the will of God, pursue a course of ease and laziness, luxury and feasting, indulge in music and the drama, sing and make merry, and drink and adorn―and Scripture is plain what your portion will be. This is what the “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” call enjoying life! What is it actually but sporting in the valley of the shadow of death, and on the brink of eternal judgment? “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:3131It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)). The heart of God is grieved at the affliction of Jesus at the hand of man. Is it all nothing to you? Have you never paused before the language of the prophet in relation to Jerusalem, true in the highest sense of the Lord Jesus Christ? “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me,” &c. (Lam. 1:1212Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. (Lamentations 1:12)).
Maybe you exclaim, What would you have me to do? Have you to do? Blessed be His name, there is nothing to do. When men afflicted and crucified Christ, God overruled their wickedness and forsook His Son. On the cross He hath made Him to be sin (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). The judgment we so richly deserve for our worldliness, wickedness, and forgetfulness, &c., of Him, was in infinite grace borne by Him once for all. No sorrow was like to His, no affliction equal to His. Christ, the Holy One and the just, the spotless Lamb of God, passed under the rod of divine judgment upon Calvary, wrought the mighty work of redemption, finished the work, and bowed His blessed head in death. His precious blood was shed, He was buried, He rose, He showed Himself, He ascended, He sat down upon God’s throne, He is crowned at His right hand. In Him is set forth in glory all your perishing soul needs. Repent ye, and believe the glad tidings concerning God’s Son.
Judgment is coming shortly, swiftly, and surely upon the world of the ungodly living as they list in worldliness, pleasure, and forgetfulness of God, ungrieved by the affliction of a greater than Joseph.
But if instead of vainly seeking to stay off the evil day, and continuing your downward course of sin, you stand in the path this day, and, accepting God’s verdict about the world as His verdict about you, as a poor, guilty, lost one, you believe His testimony concerning His Son, His everlasting Word declares that your sins and iniquities He “will remember no more” (Heb. 8:1212For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)). The woe of His judgment, as pronounced upon all who are at ease like those in Zion, shall never come upon you.
Does God mean what He says? He does. It is not a question of what men think or say. The thoughts and sayings of the natural man are always more or less in divergence from or opposed to the thoughts of God. Man thinks more lightly of his case than God does. Man slurs over sin―God never does. Man has his own code of what is right and what is wrong, but it is in disagreement with God’s code. Be wise, then, while you may. Cease to reason, cease to procrastinate, acquaint now thyself with God, and be at peace (Job 22:2121Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. (Job 22:21)).
Satan, fearful of losing you, will do his utmost to persuade you that you can enjoy the world and be all right with God at last. He dubs its pleasures and follies innocent, and if you are foolish enough to believe his lie, and remain his dupe, you will most surely rue it, and that eternally. Wake up, then, now! Face realities. Christ is the only Saviour. He only can deliver you from the thralldom of Satan, sin, and the world. “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)). He is the great Emancipator of Satan’s slaves. He paid the whole price of your emancipation in His own precious blood. Blessed, thrice blessed indeed, is the man who believes in Him! Light is streaming from the glory where He sits, the triumphant Saviour, the only accepted Man on God’s high throne. Grace abounds from thence, and superabounds. God’s righteousness is towards all, and hence towards you. Love is waiting to give you a worthy reception, to reconcile and save. The heart of the blessed God is open, His everlasting arms are outstretched. Can you remain any longer away from His fond embrace? Come, then, come as you are, come now. “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). And God will accept and grace you in Him.
The world’s judgment is lowering. “Behold, the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:99Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)). But till grace ceases, and judgment comes, the Judge is the Saviour of sinners. The greater than Joseph, once afflicted by men, and for sin on Calvary by God, is now presented to you. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). Believing on Him you will see the world in its true colors, you will see it in the light of God, instead of being color-blind through the deception of Satan, and you will receive power from God by His Spirit to refuse it, and gladly flee its guilty charms. What a Saviour Jesus is! Is He yours?
“The sinner who believes is free,
Can say ‘The Saviour died for me:’
Can point to the atoning blood,
And say ‘This made my peace with God.’”
E. H. C.