Nothing in This Life is Secure

Nothing in This Life is Secure
Scripture Passage: Amos 6:1-14
President Slobodan Milosevich may have found security in his police force and luxurious accomodations. He may also have found security in using his power to put down the ethnic Albanians. But his security in power and possessions did not endure. His belief in his superior position over all Slavs, especially the ethnic Albanians, did not bring him lasting security. He now faces the judgment of the world for his war crimes in Yugoslavia.
Even if he had continued to live his life exercising considerable power over others with all the associated material benefits, Milosevich would most certainly face the judgment of God for eternity. We all will face that judgment. The question is this: Will you be able to stand in that great day? Are you secure today to face the certain judgment to come?
Main Point: You must find real security. People trust in so many different things to provide them with a sense of security. Trusting in position, power, or possessions brings temporary relief but it is fleeting. No one can withstand the certainty of God's judgment. Only a relationship of trust in the LORD brings you real security.
Outline:

No one is exempt from God's judgment (Amos 6:1-2).

Even the finest things the world has to offer bring no security before God (Amos 6:3-6).

The material thins we take pride in and the presumed "independence" from God we love, God hates (Amos 6:7-11).

Confusing righteousness with {prosperity, patriotism, position} bears nothing but bitter fruit (Amos 6:12-14).

1. No one is exempt from God's judgment (Amos 6:1-2).
(1) Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes! (2) Go over to Calneh and see; And from there go to Hamath the great; Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory? (Amos 6:1-2, NKJV)

This judgment of God, spoken through Amos, was written primarily to the rulers of the nation of Israel -- in the Northern Kingdom -- the priests, judges, and the king. He mentions Zion (referring to Jerusalem) but only speaks of Northern Kingdom in rest of the chapter. From God's vantage point, Israel was and is the "chief nation" (6:1, NKJV). The rulers of this great nation were the ones "to whom the house of Israel comes" (6:1, NKJV).
First there is a curse on these proud rulers. "Woe to you" is a cry of grief over the dead. As we see at the beginning of chapter five, this judgment was written like a funeral dirge for the nation of Israel. Their pride is seen in the question: "Are you better than these…?" (6:2, NKJV). They supposed their position as God's chosen people in the land God had given them made them better than others. But God has a way of getting your attention and revealing the pride you hold within:

Calneh -- 120 miles north of Damascus, an area larger than Israel, overtaken by the Assyrians.

Hamath -- in modern-day Syria, an area larger than Israel, overtaken by the northern kingdom (Jeroboam II).

Gath of the Philistines -- overtaken by the southern kingdom (King Uzziah of Judah).

So the LORD is saying, "If these great city-states can be so easily overthrown, why not you Israel?" We must consider the sober reminder here that no one is exempt from God's judgment. This reminder is given to the complacent leaders of northern Israel yet it needs to rest upon the church of Jesus Christ as well.
(16) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (17) For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:16-17 NKJV)
We easily grow complacent toward life in general and the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ in particular. Difficulties and trials can steal away our zeal. Even a regular church routine can become quite comfortable for us but make no difference to the lost around us.
(6) For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.... (10) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. (Hebrews 12:6-10 NKJV)
The difficulties, trials, suffering, and persecution that comes into our lives may be because we deserve it, or may be entirely unjust. Be sure during such times that as a child of God, such troubles come into your life to make you holy, to make you more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29).

2. Even the finest things the world has to offer bring no security before God (Amos 6:3-6).
(3) Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near; (4) Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; (5) Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; (6) Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. (Amos 6:3-6 NKJV).
What would you do right now if you knew that in 30 seconds God was going to judge you on the spot for all eternity? If God's judgment is imminent, you will act righteously and with urgency.
(10) 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. (11) 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 NKJV)
How do you act if you pretend God is not going to judge you? If you tell yourself "God's judgment is a long way off" ("Woe to you who put far off the day of doom") you will think obedience to His word is unnecessary. You will decide that you do not have to mind too closely when God has His eyes closed. We have a saying, "When the cat's away the mice will play." The truth from God's word is that with such apathy you actually hasten God's judgment rather than put it off: "Who cause the seat of violence to come near" (6:3, NKJV).
These evil rulers who dismissed God's pending judgment lived as though God did not exist at all:

Lie on beds of ivory -- luxurious, extravagant.

Stretch out on your couches -- they were couch potatoes (ouch!).

Eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall -- total indulgence in gourmet everything!

Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments -- not doing anything productive.

Invent for yourselves musical instruments like David -- in context, they thought themselves Oh sooo clever!

Drink wine from bowls -- a cup of wine was not enough, these drunkards only thought to themselves they were clever (no one else did, especially God).

Anoint yourselves with the best ointments -- luxurious, extravagant.

Sadly, their pursuit of indulgence made them spiritually dull, complacent, uncaring: "But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph" (6:6, NKJV). Joseph's brothers ate dinner while Joseph was in a pit alone, hungry, and in great danger of being killed or sold into slavery by vicious traders (Gen. 37:24-25). The rulers of Israel were acting toward God and His people like the brothers of Joseph! They cared for their bodies but not for their soul. They cared for themselves but not for others. Now keep in mind, it is not a sin to have wealth but it is a sin for wealth to have you.
Materialism affects every one of us in this culture -- no one is exempt. Each of us, especially as a child of God in Christ, must diligently guard against such an evil attitude about a holy God that will never be tolerated. Judgment may come in your lifetime or may be held until your first step into eternity -- but God's judgment will come. Know for certain that even the finest things in the world -- money, power, relationships, -- offer no security before God's judgment.

3. The material things we take pride in and the presumed "independence" from God we love, God hates (Amos 6:7-11).
(7) Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed. (8) The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, The LORD God of hosts says: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city And all that is in it." (9) Then it shall come to pass, that if ten men remain in one house, they shall die. (10) And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, "Are there any more with you?" Then someone will say, "None." And he will say, "Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD." (11) For behold, the LORD gives a command: He will break the great house into bits, And the little house into pieces. (Amos 6:7-11, NKJV)
There is a paradox about God's kingdom -- if you want to be first, be last: "But many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 19:30 NKJV). He who is first (in worldly pursuits) shall be last (in God's kingdom). He who is last (in worldly pursuits in order to seek the kingdom of God) shall be first (honored in God's kingdom). God's kingdom, specifically what God values, turns the kingdom of this earth upside down. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) proclaimed by our LORD Jesus Christ is powerful because it so vividly portrays Kingdom values in direct contradiction to worldly values.
The priests and judges of Israel (the "first" or greatest in their society) because they pursued pride and materialism, would be the first to go into captivity. The "couch potatoes" would trade their opulent seat for a slave uniform.
God hated their selfish, self-righteous pride so much that He swore an oath to destroy them (6:8). An oath is always proclaimed to someone or something greater than yourself -- for God, there is no one to swear by but Himself. This indicates a binding decision that God will bring about -- His sovereign choice. He will "break the great house to bits" (6:11) -- doesn't leave much to the imagination!
Is God willing to be merciful? Of course, as He demonstrates in Amos by calling His people to repentance(Amos 5:4-6; 5:14-15). The damage has been done, however, by their reckless disobedience and the consequences (destruction of Israel) are certain. Yet the "broken and contrite" who call upon Him are saved:

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. (Psalms 34:18 NKJV)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalms 51:17 NKJV)
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (Matt. 9:13, NKJV)

God's judgment then is good -- if God never judged our evil ways, what would be the outcome? It certainly would not be holiness, a requirement for experiencing the presence of God (Heb. 12:14).

4. Confusing righteousness with {prosperity, patriotism, position} bears nothing but bitter fruit (Amos 6:12-14).
(12) Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood, (13) You who rejoice over Lo Debar, Who say, "Have we not taken Karnaim for ourselves By our own strength?" (14) "But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel," Says the LORD God of hosts; "And they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath To the Valley of the Arabah." (Amos 6:12-14, NKJV)
The rulers/leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel paid lip service to God -- whatever "religion" they practiced it was devoid of a personal relationship with god. They promoted a society that tried to live as though right were wrong and wrong were right -- "do horses run on rocks?" illustrates the absurdity of turning justice into bitterness (injustice). You cannot run a horse on rocks or, as it indicates here, rocky edges as in mountainous areas. Neither can you plow oxen. Neither can you live in such diametrically opposed position to God's plan for righteousness. Further, these leaders rejoiced in their own strength (6:13). Now which breath did they take on their own without God's Sovereign and powerful hand enabling them to do so? Not a one. Yet they trusted, not in God, but in their own supposed strength.
God really hates these things when we do them -- and we do these things from time to time. "Karnaim" (6:13) means "horns" symbolizing strength -- the people rejoiced in their perceived strength as a nation. But the prophet deliberately mispronounces the name of the city "Lo Debar" (6:13) in Hebrew as "Lo Dabar" meaning nothing (6:13) -- God speaks through the prophet to mock the people who trust literally in nothing when they could trust in the LORD God Almighty. How tragic!
The rulers and leaders of God's chosen people felt secure in their power and position, chased after material indulgences, grew complacent, then grew perverted. They found out the hard way that the LORD will judge and punish even His own people! From "the entrance of Hamath" (northernmost territory of Israel) to the "Valley of the Arabah" (the southernmost territory of Israel), God will "afflict" Israel.
Again, God's people must be the first to examine our lives and weed these things out by the grace of God and according to His truth:

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15 NKJV)
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. (4) "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4 NKJV)
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. (35) "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. (36) "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36 NKJV)

When I was growing up, I had to take this little blue pill for asthma. I hated that pill, even though I knew it was good for me. Because no matter how quickly I tried to swallow it, it left the awfulest bitter taste in my mouth. We must take heed according to God's truth and not our own preferences or persuasions.
By examining and measuring our motives, our attitudes, our thoughts, our feelings, our words, and our actions, we can avoid turning the righteous life into a bitter pill. Instead, we can pursue Jesus Christ and His righteousness and bear good fruit that will last. As our LORD Jesus Christ said to us:

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16 NKJV)

Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.Com
Copyright 7/2/2001, Randy Lariscy.