A Famine In The Land

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11).

The Word of God reveals the magnitude of the perplexing problem of our present generation. For many of today are going their own way forgetting what manner of persons they were. Many have found it easier to walk in their own way rather than to adhere to the Word of God. Isaiah revealed that we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). I believe these words are appropriate for us of today as well.

We are seeking many inducements for one to walk in their own comfort zone rather than to adhere to what thus saith the Lord. We wonder why the power of God no longer prevails in our churches as in yesteryear. One answer lies in the inability of God's people to allow His Word to outweigh the things of this World. Many devices, which pollute the mind, are capturing the attention of God's people more than allowing His Word to settle in their hearts and lives.

The Word That Is Being Sown

I believe that there is a fallacy in the land of the Word of God that is being sown. Much of it is to tickle the ear or suit the fancy of those that hear.
Paul told Timothy to preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables (II Timothy 4:2-4).

A False Doctrine
One man of God revealed that Satan is sending a false doctrine to infiltrate the church. I believe the signs of the last days are upon us. Their is a complete disregard for God's Word enhanced by a society that is willing to trade the condition of their soul for an easier walk. When our laws can be twisted and perverted to the enhancement of the ungodly it is truly a sign of the times.
Daniel spoke of a time that the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10). Is now not the time to proclaim the many injustices that are bombarding our land? Is now not the time to spell out in black and white the evils that are attempting to outweigh the righteousness of mankind in the form of a perverted gospel? Is now not the time to take a stand for the truth of God's Word?

Deviating From God's Word
God's Word is easily understood yet many are deviating from its standards as if there is no day of reckoning. God will honor the repentant in heart but to the unrepentant judgment will come. Has one become so saturated in the daily bombardment of unrighteousness that they have become immune to what is happening round about them? Has one become sympathetic towards the appeasement of people rather than proclaim the undadultered Word of God?
Many churches bylaws have been changed towards self-appeasement creating their own standards. What will the future bring as one searches out the niceties of God's Word to appease the people? Peter said: "I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that you may be mindful of the words which have been spoken by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (II Peter 3:1-3)."

A Nation That No Longer Fears God
We live in a land flowing with milk and honey. We have been blessed as no other nation but it is fast becoming a pagan nation that no longer fears God. What has materialized in recent years would have made our forefathers wonder in amazement. No one knows when the end will come but we as the people of God need to walk according to His Word as if that day were upon us. Let us stand for the truth of God's Word now while we have the opportunity.

The Things That Will Destroy Us
An unknown author wrote of the things that will destroy us: politics without principles; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice. One can starve off these qualities that are bringing a destructive pattern into our existence through allowing the Word of God to penetrate their hearts and lives. One does not have to allow one's self to be roughshod into believing that it is alright to flaunt God's Word and that no harm will come from it.
The Penalty For Error
We live in a land flowing with milk and honey; just as the early Israelites, but their honeymoon ended when they embraced the idols of the land and forsook the God of their creation. If we do not grasp hold of the significance of God's unadulterated Word we could readily fall into such a condition as well. There we many who would like to twist, pervert, and offset the truth of God's Word. It is up to believers in Christ to uphold that truth.
We have those who are attempting to offset the things of God through an antichristian agenda that targets anything that would reflect Christianity. Even within our own ranks there are those who no longer have the same commitment that they once had. Our Lord gave a report concerning the church at Ephesus with a startling observation "you have left your first love" (Revelations 2:4).
Unless one is awakened to the truth by the revelation of God's Word, as was given to the church at Ephesus to awaken them, the famine in the land of hearing the words of the Lord will continue.