JUDGEMENT BY FIRE

The air smelled acrid and the sky cast an eerie glow. Ash floated everywhere carried by dry hot wind. Southern California was on fire! Firefighters appeared dwarfed like children with squirt guns against a giant wall of flames which, like a living thing, consumed everything in its path. Everyone was in shock, mourning and fear. The personal stories of loss were heart wrenching. Then, the madness started all over again more cities burning. I prayed in stunned silence it was all just too familiar. You see, a few days before, I had read the book of Amos I don't even remember why. But now, great parallels leapt out like flames themselves as a graphic call to prayer not only for all the victims but for the Body of Christ.

The book of Amos starts with the Lord's voice roaring like a hot wind causing the pastures and mountain tops to dry up (1:2). He then began pronouncing judgment on various cities always ending with "I will send a fire" (1:4,7,10,12, 14, 2:2,5) The first six fires described were on heathen cities that had cruelly oppressed or taken captive God's people. I do not believe God is singling out for judgment the cities here that burned I grieve for and with them but I do believe God wants to open our eyes through their pain. There is probably not a city in America today that isn't in danger of judgment at this hour and we must take seriously the catastrophic forces that have overwhelmed this nation in recent months.

But even more important, the fires in Amos signaled the start of God's charges against His own people. Some were: They do not keep My Word (2:4), are full of idolatry and sin and unmindful of the poor (2:7 8), they have shut the mouths of the prophets and defiled the children I set aside as dedicated ones (vs. 11 12). In chapter 3 God begins to warn of judgment. "When disaster comes to a city has not the Lord caused it? Surely the Lord will do nothing without first revealing His secret to His servants the prophets." (3:6b, 7). But God's people did not want to hear the prophet's words. They were too hard. In chapter 4 the Lord went on to tell them it was He Who had sent the droughts and floods, and caused it to rain in one city and not in another (vs. 7). He had sent blight and diseases to the household of God yet they did not return (vs. 9,10). In fact, they really didn't know they had ever left! Things were "business as usual," no matter what God did! So God pronounced woe on those who dared to be at ease in Zion in such a day who were careless and felt secure (6:1).

Chapters 5, 6 and 7 describe the church of that day. They wanted pleasantries and feasts and said "say no hard words to us" (7:16). They were church goers who seemed to do the right things. They had solemn assemblies, gave offerings, and sang worship songs. But God said He despised it all (5:21 23), for it was justice and righteousness He was looking for (vs. 24). God rejected their worship because they were not grieved and sick at heart over the affliction and ruin of His people (6:5 6). Bethel (house of God) had become Bethaven (house of vanity, emptiness, falsity and futility 5:5 Amp). Therefore God said He would send famine, not of food and drink but of the Word of the Lord (8:11). The people would run to and fro but not find help (8:12).

Sometimes I wonder if that is where we are today. Many churches court the unbelievers, trying to build big reputations and numbers while the flock is left untended. They are allowed to continue in sin and idolatry and hear only pleasant encouraging words. They are given musicals and feasts and celebrations but left starving and dying for the needed Word of the Lord that smites and corrects in order to heal.

Because of our valley and these letters, we hear many cries from desperate sheep in bondage, sin, sickness and fear. They talk to us because they feel they will find understanding. But were it not for our valley, I imagine we would still be blind and unconcerned. So we are writing this through our pain to challenge ourselves and others to give heed lest more devastation come on the Body of Christ. "For thus says the Lord, 'Seek Me (inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food) and you shall live.'" (5:4) "Seek the Lord and you shall live; lest He rush down like fire upon His house and devour it and there be none to quench it in Bethel (the church) (5:6). God warns us in Acts 13:40, "Take care therefore, lest there come upon you what is spoken in the prophets." "These things befell them as a warning to us and were written to admonish and instruct us, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax" (I Cor 10:11).

So how should we respond? In chapter 7, Amos pled that the Lord would not devour His people with fire and the Lord relented! Shall we not also pray for this? But of one thing, God did not relent. He set His plumb line in the midst of His people to divide out those who would not give heed, but continued wanting only their own ease. And I believe God is setting up a plumb line today a standard of righteousness and calling us to flee to Him from all of the world's trappings.

Lord, help us to recognize You are speaking through the disasters that are around us. We do not want to be vain, idle and seeking our own pleasures in such a day as this. Forgive us, Lord, and cleanse us. We pray, as Amos did, for mercy to triumph over judgment, and we ask that when You set Your plumb line, not one of the household of faith will be lost for Your Name's sake. And as we approach this holiday season, save us, Lord, from the strong temptation to escape into pleasure and not face all that is happening. Show us how to rejoice in You but keep us from causing You to despise our feasts because we have not grieved and taken to heart the affliction and ruin within Your house and this nation. Revive us, Lord, that Your kingdom may come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus' Name, amen.