Scars of Escape

“Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.” (Am 5:18 AV)

Prior to the invasion of the north by Assyria, no doubt there may have been a few who were not carried away with the sins of their nation.  Prior to Babylon coming for Judah, we know there were a few who did not bow to Baal.  These small remnants, no doubt, desired the judgment of God upon their land that it might be cleansed from all unrighteousness.  No doubt they wanted the kingdom restored to its holy condition that God might be glorified.  No doubt, they wanted the day of the LORD.  However, when the day of the LORD came, they were not immune to some of the circumstances.  Some fell.  Some were carried away.  Some remained in the land, but life was very difficult.  The day of the LORD had consequences for them as well.  We should be careful what we wish for.

There isn’t a day that goes by wherein the saint is confronted with wickedness at every turn.  There isn’t a day that goes by wherein we are reminded how wicked of a nation we have become.  Our preaching is consumed by it.  We plead.  Be implore.  We are distraught that even the people of God are caught up with compromised positions on the clear abominations if the LORD.  We warn of judgment to come.  We teach from God’s word that He must judge our evil.  We tell of the signs of the times that are quickly appearing and warn that God’s wrath will not abate forever.  Part of us wants this judgment to come.  Part of us wants the LORD to return and set it all right.  And, He will.  There is also a part of us that desires God set it right prior to His return.  We look for the hand of God to se things right.  We wish the LORD would judge the horrendous sins of our nation that we might turn back to Him.  We want this because it will bring revival.

But let un not think for one moment that if the LORD does move against our nation that God’s people will escape completely unscathed.  This is not true.  God does separate the righteous from the wicked.  Noah’s flood, Lot’s escape, and the small remnant of Judah are examples.  But these escapes did not happen comfortably.  There were consequences associated with it.  Noah started all over again without any other human help or companionship.  Lot lost us wife and fathered children by his daughters.  The remnant of Judah struggled to maintain the land until the seventy years captivity was ended.  We may want God’s intervention. And we should.  But let us not fool ourselves. When it comes, it will mean hard times for the believer as well.  What we should be motivated to do is to work even harder to evangelize our nation that the LORD might repent of His intentions of judgment.  We need to be careful what we wish for.