The prophet Amos plainly points to a time when, because of continued disobedience, it would be too late for some to turn to God’s Word in an attempt to avoid the divine judgments. “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it” (Amos 8:11,12). Deep sorrow sometimes stimulates people to heed the Holy Scriptures. Unfortunately, such sorrow often comes too late to produce any beneficial result.
Esau had a such sorrow “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Hebrews 12:17). Esau cried with tears not because he was sorry he sinned against God but because he lost the blessing that was promised to the obedient.
This experience may happen to some, not because God’s love is withdrawn from the sinner, but because the sinner has become so hardened in his iniquities that he wishes only to escape the consequence of his transgressions, and not to forsake his evil ways. He has grieved the Holy Spirit beyond all hope of true repentance and reformation of character (Gen. 6:3, 5, 6; 1 Sam. 28:6).
The fulfillment of this prophecy will take place in the final “day of the Lord,” just before the second advent of Christ. This experience of ancient Israel will be repeated, when the impenitent of the whole earth, suffering under the seven last plagues, will seek relief from calamity by any means possible, even turning to the Word of God, which they had formerly neglected to study and obey but it will be too late.
Therefore, the apostle Paul urges the believers, “behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The Lord calls all His children to heed his call of salvation while there is chance. He is waiting with open arms to receive them into His blessed family, “Look unto me, and be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
