AP

Amos 1:3-5   This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath.  Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth, I will send fire upon the house of Hazael that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.  I will break down the gate of Damascus; I will destroy the king who is in the Valley of Aven and the one who holds the sceptre in Beth Eden.  The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,” says the LORD.

Even when peoples and nations refuse to acknowledge the One True God and his revealed Truth in his Word, he still holds them accountable for their failure to obey his commands.  The fact that they reject him and his Word BECAUSE they DON’T WANT to BE ACCOUNTABLE to any higher authority makes no difference from God’s perspective.  (As someone said many years ago during the rise of Communism: “Russia has abolished God, but so far God has been more tolerant.”)

 Of course, Amos is leading up to a message of Judgement on the LORD God’s own Covenant People, Israel, because of their disregard for the LAW (Torah) that was given to them on Mt Sinai through Moses, but Judgement was also necessary for nations outside the Covenant.  The Apostle Paul gives a theological explanation of the basis of this Judgement in Romans 2:8-16 – “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.  There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For God does not show favouritism.  All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.  (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)  This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.”

The ONLY escape from this Final Judgement is the refuge we can find through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us therefore make every effort to make HIS Name known!