Return to the Lord
Scripture Reading: Amos 4-7; Revelation 12
“Yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD.
Amos 4:6
This phrase is repeated five times in Amos chapter four. Then, in the flow of the text, instead of repeating it again, Amos says, “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” To be clear, preparing to meet God was not meant as a positive and encouraging word. It was said to raise alarm and fear. God was coming and they would meet Him in judgment.
That is why is is important to see it in the context of thee five declarations about Israel’s failure to return. They refused to return after drought, blight, pestilence, and defeats. These were the warning shots over the bow. They were intended to get their attention and wake them up.
There were reasons these things were happening and it wasn’t merely due to political struggles or the normal course of climate variations. These things were happening because God was using drastic means to discipline and correct the nation.
But what happens when a person/nation will not receive such discipline and correction? There comes a time when they have gone too far.
I think John’s almost cryptic line about there being a “sin unto death” comes into view. In 1 John we are told that there is a sin unto death. I don’t think John is thinking about a specific sin like theft or adultery. Although they may play a part. I think what he means is that we can keep pushing the limits of what God will tolerate from us until we go too far.
We can, like Israel, refuse to heed the warnings and refuse to return to the Lord until that door of return is shut and we have gone to far. I’m not talking about losing salvation. I’m talking about losing life, or possibly being set on a shelf and becoming no longer useful in the kingdom of God.
Finally, notice God’s great patience in the text. Five times they are told “yet you did not return to me.” This means that there was a long period of God waiting for them to return, of the Lord’s disciplinary work to prompt that return.
God is patient. He will wait and push for our return to Him. But His patience is not unending. Return while return is possible.
