Amo 2:4 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked.

                                                      

Because they have despised the law of the LORD - Judah's sin was that they despised and disobeyed the law of the LORD. God blessed His people with His law and commandments and He expected them to honour and obey His word (Romans 2:13). 

Their lies caused them to err - Their lies led them astray. They followed lies, were idolaters, and followed false prophets rather than those sent by Jehovah. 

After the which their fathers have walked – The lies continued from one generation to another. 

Why So Many Are Following Lies?

1. MISGUIDED: They are led astray by false teachers. “For the leaders of this people cause them to err;” (Isaiah 9:16).

2. SIN: Because of sin, they choose to believe a lie. “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isaiah 30:10).

3. IGNORANCE: They fail to study and know the scripture. “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).

4. COVETOUSNESS: Many turn religion into a profitable business. “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18).

5. LAZINESS: They are too lazy to check if the teachings are true or false. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

6. BAD ATTITUDE: They don’t think doctrines are important and so they ignore them. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). 

The law of God is holy, just, and good and the righteous choose to walk in it: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Since the word of God brings us truth, when we despise and disobey God's word we naturally embrace and follow lies. You can't reject the truth without grabbing hold of a lie. 

Parents who believe a lie pass it down to their children. We are not to follow the fathers in error, but must follow the word of God alone. Therefore, we are commanded to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39). It means a thorough search, a close examination of the word of God. Don’t believe everything you read or hear; search the scriptures. A diligent search requires a diligent study on the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). One will never be able to derive at the truth until he begins to study the scriptures diligently and with an honest heart. 

The folks in Berea “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They were listening to the apostle Paul, and wanted to make sure what he was saying lined up with the teachings of the Old Testament. Perhaps Paul was telling them that there was evidence in the Old Testament that the Messiah would suffer, die, and be risen. They needed to verify that with the source. They had an honest desire to know the truth. 

Those who sincerely want to know the truth will find it. Do you want to know the truth? “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

                          

God is talking to Israel. He says of all the families on earth, Israel is the only family He has chosen to know in a special way (vs 2). Yet, Israel has turned their backs on God and therefore He must punish them. He asks them: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

The implication is that there must first be friendship that exists between two persons before they can walk together. Friendship brings them together. They would have first discussed and agreed the appointed time and place to meet walk, and whither they will go. Without such consultation and agreement, it cannot be thought they would be walking together. Such meeting is not possible for two persons who do not see eye to eye. Would you want to spend a day with someone whom you are not in good terms with? Of course you won’t.

                                                                                                                   

The design of God’s statement is to show that without friendship there is no fellowship. Such is the case between man and man, and such is also between God and man. Israel should not expect that God should walk with them, and show Himself friendly to them, and continue His favours with them, when they were walking contrary to Him.

Since God will not walk with anyone that is not walking in His ways, should we then walk with professed Christians who are not walking in God’s ways? The answer is an emphatically NO! The Scriptures say: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). The apostle John concurs: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (2 John 1:10).

It is recorded of Enoch and of Noah that each of them walked with God (Genesis 5:22; 6:9). They wouldn’t be walking with God if they had been disobedient to God’s commandment. But we read that “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Genesis 6:22). One condition of walking with God (fellowship) is obedient to all His commandments.

Abraham was charged to do so by the LORD Himself: "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect" (Genesis 17:1). Abraham was walking in his own way when he tried to fulfil the promised seed himself by taking Hagar and as a result, gave birth to Ishmael. God did not talk to him for thirteen years. And when He finally did so, the first reprove He gave to Abraham was: “Walk before Me, and be thou perfect.”

The perfect man walks with God. Conversely, the man who is not walking in God’s commandments is not perfect. The Scriptures say that the man of God can be perfect who walks according to God’s inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Only the word of God can make a man perfect.

Hence, can two walk together, except they be agreed? Can we have fellowship (walk together) with those who are not walking in God’s commandments? Can we have fellowship with the liberals? The word of God says we cannot! (2 John 1:9-11).

When Paul wrote: “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33), he was referring to those who taught falsely about the resurrection. Paul was warning the Corinthian church to stay away and have no association with such brethren because they would be influenced and become corrupt by their false doctrine. Truth and false doctrines simply cannot be mixed.

Brethren, let us beware those who teach falsely. Even those who claim to be our brethren, if they have turned liberals, we cannot have fellowship with them. Let us walk only with those who walk with God. Since God would not walk with them, why should we?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Amo 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

In Amos 4, God calls on the nation Israel to prepare to meet their God (vs 12).

The first question that obviously will come to our mind is: "WHY SHOULD WE MEET GOD?"                         

Well, the answer is relatively simple. It is because whether we like it or not, we must all appear before the judgement seat of God (2 Corinthians 5:10). This meeting with God is inevitable! There is absolutely no escape! Every individual in the world must meet God (Hebrews 9:27). 

The second question would be: "WHY SHOULD WE PREPARE OURSELVES TO MEET GOD?"                         

The answer is simple too: because of the serious consequence if we go unprepared. God said: “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee,” (vs 12). What was God referring to? The answer is in the verse 11: “I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,” (vs 11a). God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sins, God will destroy Israel too.

This meeting with God concerns His judgment and our eternal destiny. All of us want to go to heaven. The outcome of our eternal destiny will be made known on that day. Surely, it is a meeting we will all want to be prepared for.

Then, the most important question: "HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE OURSELVES TO MEET GOD?" 

Indeed, there are many preparations for us in order to enter heaven. What are they?

1. FAITH. The first condition to enter heaven is FAITH. Heaven is not for those who do not believe in God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

2. HOLINESS. Prepare to meet God by forsaking sin: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Only the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

3. WORSHIP. Prepare to meet God by a spiritual worship: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). How do you worship God?

4. DOCTRINES. Prepare to meet God by seeking truth. Those who believe and preach a false doctrines are accursed: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). To be accursed is to be eternally condemned.

We should prepare to meet God in worship by going to a church where truth is honoured as a very high premium. The Israelites were a religious people. But they had lost touch with the God of truth and they were not worshiping in truth (Matthew 15:9). True worshippers are those who worship God in truth (John 4:24).

5. SERVICE. Prepare to meet God by a life of service to Him. Christ told a parable of two servants who were given charge to take care of their masters’ household while they were away. One servant diligently carried out his duty and was blessed when the master returned. The other did not and was condemned (Matthew 24:45-51).

When the Lord comes again, will He find you actively in His service? Are you prepared to meet your God?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.