HoHum:
There are many important events that take place in a person’s life: Birth, first word, first step, first date, marriage, first job, first promotion, etc. Not all of these happen in every life.
Regardless of the person, or the event, no experience can outmeasure the experience of meeting God, and every one must meet God.
Many refuse to consider this momentous event. Some may doubt the existence and authority of God. Some may disbelieve or scorn the thought of the possibility of having to meet God face to face to give an account for their lives on this earth.
WBTU:
There are several judgments of God in the Bible. There is the judgment seat of Christ.
There is the judgment of the nations. The context of Amos 4:12 is talking about the judgment that God is going to bring onto the northern nation of Israel because they refused to return to God. God brought famine, drought, blight, plagues, war and destruction upon them but they refused to repent. Therefore, God is going to put an end to them.
Even though that is the context we cannot help but think about the Judgment Day from this verse. There is coming a day when we will be alone with God the Judge to give an account and this will determine our eternal destiny.
Thesis: Let’s talk about this meeting.
For instances:
This meeting is inevitable.
Hebrews 9:27: man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment
No amount of contrary belief or unbelief can ever change this fact. This belief is all over the Bible and called: the Day, Day of the Lord, Day of Judgment, Day of the Lord Jesus Christ, Day of God’s Wrath, End of the Age, Great Day, the Last Day.
C. This is one of the unalterable and eternally fixed decrees of an unchanging and unchangeable God. Hosea 9:7: The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand.
The condition of our soul will determine the nature of this meeting.
Good standing, good deeds, honorable attainments, will not help in this meeting.
Titus 3:5 says that it will not be based on righteous things we have done. Isaiah 64:6 says that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags in God’s sight. Romans 3:10 says: As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one
But I’m a good fellow. I’m a whole lot better and righteous than some of the people I know. Probably true but Romans 3:20: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
In other words, God does not judge on a bell curve. Pass or fail and we all fail. Romans 3:22-23: There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
If the meeting is to be a good one, preparation must be made.
This meeting with God will be one of joy or grief, salvation or condemnation.
There is a desire in all people to have God come and set things right. Psalm 42:2-3: When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” When things are not fair and life turns sour, people want God to come and set things straight.
Unfortunately, there is no hope for a peaceful meeting without preparation. John 3:3: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
No one in his natural condition is fit for heaven. We are sinners and not fit for our meeting with God. Hebrews 12:14: without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Nothing holy, impure, or imperfect will be allowed to enter heaven and be in the presence of God. Revelation 21:27: Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Must prepare like with any important meeting, but how?
How shall this preparation be made?
Look at His Word, the Bible:
A. Romans 1:16: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
B. 1 Peter 1:22-23: Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
C. Which truth am I to obey? All of it. That is impossible. Obey the gospel commands. What are the gospel commands?
1. Belief.
John 3:16
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
2. Repentance
Acts 3:19: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord
Cannot repent without Jesus but a willingness to let the Lord change us and strive to follow.
Talk about the time of decision, I have decided to follow Jesus
3. Confession
Romans 10:9-10: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Presence of witnesses- 1 Timothy 6:12
4. Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
John 3:5: “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
So What? Conclusion and invitation
I know that there are many ways to look at this meeting with God that is talked about in Amos 4 I am going to give one. Not necessarily how it will be but it gives us an illustration, a picture.
“My Time on Earth” After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn’t take my eyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this person belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn’t that at least equal out part of the harm I’d done? Satan finished with a fury and said, "This woman belongs in hell, she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."
When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi,Dad," and then He turned to address the court. "Satan was correct in saying that this person had sinned, I won’t deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this person deserves to be punished." Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine." My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the Book of Life. This individual is not to be given justice, but rather mercy." As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done." "I’ve done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips.. "This person is free." The penalty has already been paid in full. "Case dismissed." As my Lord led me away, I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?" Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you.
