A Few Good Men?

The Marine slogan was at one time: WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN. At least we knew what the Marines are looking for, but what about God?

This summer there has been quite a buzz about the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I wouldn't at this time poke that hornets nest, but here are some thoughts on a related subject. There are many fanciful ideas about what the second coming will be like, but I offer the following  passage taken from the fifth chapter of Amos, one of the Old Testament minor prophets. Amos was not a professional prophet, nor a prophet's disciple, but a simple man from the land, a breeder of sheep. God, through this simple prophet warned the people that they needed to repent. They needed to turn to God and change their sinful ways.

• Amos 5:18  Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light. 
• 19)  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 
• 20)  Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? 

Amos, Verses 18 - 20 : The day of Jehovah shall be darkness not light; a day of sorrow not joy. This will be true for the second coming of Christ for those not prepared

• 21)  I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 
• 22)  Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. 
• 23)  Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 

Amos, Verses 21 - 23:  These contemporaries of Amos were keeping the letter of the law, but not the heart. 

• 24)  But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. 
• 25)  Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 
• 26)  Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. 

In place of Jehovah God, they had made themselves God. Keeping the letter of the law didn't please God under the Old Covenant:

 Hosea 6:6  "For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings."

 Doing good works can be good, but it doesn't get a person into heaven. What does God desire today?

Matthew 9:13  "But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." 

Mark 3:35  "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Hebrews 10:7  "Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God."

 John 4:23  "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. (24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

God wants the sacrifice—not of burnt offerings, meal offerings, or peace offerings, but of a broken and contrite heart and obedience:

• But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13 ASV)
•   "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 7:21

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 20:28  Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

What a Savior!

Watchman, What of the Night?

"...Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come." (Isaiah 21:11-12 ASV)

11. "(The Oracle Concerning Dumah.

A voice crieth to me from Seir:)

Watchman, what from the night?

Watchman, what from the night?

12. The watchman replieth: - 

The morning cometh, and also the night.

If ye will inquire, inquire ye: come again."

There are many beautiful passages in God's word. Written in the Old Testament this passage is still a beacon for today. A watchman was a person stationed on the top of the city walls in order to 'watch' for the enemy. Today's watchmen are God's servants. 

Why does God allow evil/bad things to happen? God's original world was created without spot or wrinkle. It didn't have evil, no sorrow, nor sin. That changed when humans chose to disobey God. Most of us understand that we are free to choose between doing right or doing wrong, and both of those choices have consequences for our selves--and sometimes for innocent others. Many in the world and this nation have chosen to turn their back on Jehovah. They choose to go their own way, and decide for themselves what is right or wrong.

Romans 1:21  "because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22)  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," 

Giving this people time for repentance, Jehovah has been long-suffering towards us: 

Psalms 106:14  "But  (Israel) lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert. 15) And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul." 

This nation has been blessed exceedingly above and beyond other nations, yet we can see evil growing in our days. As long as we allow evil to grow—it will grow. 

"Don't judge me, don't judge me, Judge that person behind the tree..."

No one wants to be told the truth. Therefore they don't call on the watchman to warn them, or they don't listen when the watchman does call them. They allow evil, and they practice evil. As people before us have said, self rule will only work for those who have Christ and self discipline. That is one reason why we haven't been successful in exporting democracy. Laws don't control human behavior, or human feelings. Only self-discipline.

The watchman replieth—the morning cometh:  The morning comes when there is a time to turn from evil and to choose good and right. There is a morning for repentance and salvation.

"Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee." (Ephesians 5:14 ASV)

1Thessalonians 5:1 "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. 2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3)  When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. 4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: 5)  for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; 6)  so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. 7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. 8)  But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation." 

"...and also the night." When the grace of God will have ended, and the judgement of God has begun. 

1Thessalonians 5:9  "For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10)  who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." 

Ezekiel 3:17  "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 

~Choose life~

Hallelujah! What a Savior!