A Firebrand Plucked from the Burning

 I can't imagine what it would be like to be engulfed in fire in a burning building. It would be terrifying. Then, I think of when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He rained fire and brimstone down on those cities burning up the buildings and the people. God did that because of their sins and their refusal to repent of them. Still, I think it would be one of the worst ways for a person to die. Just try to imagine that scene of God's judgment.

The prophet Amos gave the Lord's message to the people of Israel after He had sent judgment on them for their numerous sins. (Amos 4:11) God reminded them that He had overthrown some of them as He overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. The ones who lived through it were like firebrands plucked from the burning, but they had not returned to the Lord, even after going through that horror. How could that happen?

Of course, it is possible for people not to turn to God after He unleashes His fury on them, because He has given us a free will. We are moral agents who can decide to turn to the Lord or not. However, what would possess a person to experience God's wrath and not be so humbled that they would gladly submit to Almighty God? I believe there are several reasons, but one of the main reasons is the pride of the human heart. Many people really do think they know better than God, and they are going to go their way instead of God's way, no matter what happens.

However, the other reason is the terrible effect of sin on the human heart. We can get addicted to sin. When we sin over and over, our heart gets very hardened by those sins. Then, when God tries to get us to listen to Him, we can hardly hear Him. This can be true, even when we are like a firebrand plucked from the burning. I pray that none of us will allow our pride and our sins to get us into this position. I pray we will humble ourselves and confess our sins every day, so we never have to go through these things.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 5-7.