Repent or Perish

Amos 8:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “When I will send hunger over the land, Not hunger for bread or a thirst for water, But rather [a hunger] for hearing the words of the LORD.”

Famine and drought were two of the punishments God used against Israel because they refused to (repent) accept correction and return to Him. God used a series of “natural disasters” (famine, drought, crop-failure, plague, war and natural calamity) to awaken the people to their sin, but these disasters were unsuccessful in causing Israel to return to God. The people of God  refused to accept correction and repent. God sent the prophet Amos to warn Israel that a new kind of famine was coming, not a famine of bread and water but a famine of the Word. God warned them that He would not speak again until they repented.

Natural disasters (food shortage, drought, crop-failure, plague, war and natural calamity) still occur but God who spoke in the past through His prophets now speaks to us through His son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2). God does not want us to perish. He wants us to live. To live requires repentance and belief in Jesus. Jesus said, “It is written, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The enemy of our soul wants us to be dull in hearing and reject the voice of God. The voice of God is permeating every sector of the earth. However God is causing people who are hungry and thirsty to hear His voice. He has a remnant rising up who are hungry and desperate for His Word. A remnant that is fervently crying out to Him. A remnant that has their ear to the heart of God waiting to hear and respond willingly and obediently.

God demands our obedience, a heartfelt attitude that leads to repentance. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”(Acts 3:19).

#repentorperish #soundthealarm #wov

Bettie Davis