John 3.16 tells the full extent of God’s love for humans. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
God wants us to have a quality of life that is so rich that it can only be described as “eternal.” In sending His Son to be the Savior of the world, God did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Out of His immense love, God proclaimed to an idolatrous and disobedient Israel that He would restore and rebuild them as in days of old. He assured them of victory over their enemies, emphasizing His active presence in their lives.
On that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
In order that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,
says the Lord who does this. (Amos 9.11-12)
A question arises when considering God’s gracious love: while He is the one who works, do we simply sit by and passively accept whatever comes our way, or is there a role that we play in receiving His love and grace?
Like Amos, Isaiah spoke of repairing broken places. He listed activities that God required of His people. Notice how similar Isaiah’s list is to the message that God proclaimed through Amos.
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday. (Isaiah 58.6-8, 10)
As God’s people align their lives with God’s values, He rebuilds the ruins of their homes and cities.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58.12)
One author summarized God’s work quite well. He said, “God breaks the chains of bondage from our necks, but we must remove them.”
God is the one who is completely active in rebuilding what is broken.
However, our response is not to be passive bystanders, but active participants who align our lives with what He is doing.
God’s Abundance
Amos used imagery familiar to Israel’s culture to illustrate God’s abundance.
The time is surely coming, says the Lord,
when the one who plows shall catch up with the one who reaps
and the treader of grapes with the one who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
I will plant them upon their land,
and they shall never again be plucked up
out of the land that I have given them,
says the Lord your God. (Amos 9.13-15)
The depth of life that God provides is so vast that it can best be described as eternal.
Eternal life is more than a quantity of time. It is a quality that can be embraced by people who receive God’s love and actively participate in His life.
God’s love for humanity should be embraced with faith and obedience. It ought to be accepted by willing partners who collaborate with Him in His work in the world.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 