291. AMO 4:12. THE SOLEMN WARNING

Amo_4:12. The Solemn Warning

"Prepare to meet thy God."’97Amo_4:12.

How truly solemn these words! And how deserving of the serious, prayerful consideration of every human being. Let us try to deduce such observations, and to produce such impressions from the words as they are obviously calculated to effect.

Observe,

I. That an Interview between God and Man is inevitable.

We are always under the immediate eye of Deity. He is round about both our bed and path. Every instant we are surrounded by his presence. See Psa_139:1-10. But there are two specific interviews which will be direct and unavoidable.

1. In the hour of dissolution.

Death is the officer of God. Acts under his immediate authority and control. An officer no money can bribe, no influence thwart, no skill evade, no power resist. Then when the body returns to the dust, the soul will ascend naked into the immediate presence of God who made it.

2. In the day of judgment.

After death the judgment. "We must all appear," &c. Then God will confront all his creatures. Every eye shall see him! every soul be judged by him, &c. See Psa_1:3-4; Dan_7:9-10, 2Th_1:7-8; Rev_20:11

Notice,

II. Preparation is necessary to make these Meetings safe and happy.

In our natural, guilty, unholy state, God must, from the holiness of his nature, punish and exclude from his presence and glory. Such a meeting will involve the sinner in shame, confusion, condemnation, and eternal death. How necessary, then, is preparation!

1. The preparation of sincere repentance.

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent," &c. "Except ye repent," &c.

2. The preparation of faith in the Lord Jesus.

God not only requires repentance towards himself, but "faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." "He that believeth,"&c. Faith unites us to Christ. And makes us heirs of all the blessings of his mediatorial work. In Christ we have pardon, peace, adoption, and endless life.

3. The preparation of regeneration.

"Must be born again." Have a new heart and right spirit. Renewed in the spirit of our minds. "Without holiness," &c.

4. The preparation of good works.

Not works of merit. Not works to be accepted of God, but works of goodness, produced in us, by his Holy Spirit. Works of devotion to God, and beneficence, and compassion to men. See Mat_25:31, &c.

Let us then,

III. Urge the Admonition of the Text.

"Prepare" to meet thy God.

1. Prepare scripturally.

Do not form a religion of your own. Do not depend on any foundation except the Saviour. Do not attempt to mingle any thing with the pure waters of salvation. Adhere to the word. Abide by the gospel Renounce all Saviours, but Christ Jesus Neglect no part of the gospel plan. See former head. All essentially necessary 2. Prepare earnestly Let it be your first and chief care. Have your most vigorous powers. Occupy your chief attention. Think what is pending. Look upward’97forward’97downward. Agonize to enter the strait gate, and to be found in the way of eternal life. "Give all diligence," &c.

3. Prepare immediately.

Delays are extremely dangerous. Eternal joy or everlasting woes depend perhaps upon the present now. "Behold now," &c. "To-day, if ye will hear," &c.

4. Let all prepare.

Ye young. Ye middle aged. Ye with gray hairs and hoary heads. Ye rich, and learned, and great; and ye poor, and illiterate, and wretched. You are each and all concerned. The text belongs to every one of you. Be wise, obey the Saviour, and prepare to meet your God.

Application

Let the subject, Awaken the careless’97arouse the supine’97alarm the impenitent’97and stimulate the believer, to abound yet more and more it the work of the Lord.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS