Seek Christ and Live

"For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live; ⁵ but do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal, nor pass over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. ⁶ Seek the LORD and live, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel."

Amos 5:4-6

A few nights ago I came across this passage.  It illustrates one of the common pitfalls of God-fearing people:  seeking fulfillment through ritual rather than seeking God.  Amos was a working man turned prophet through the call of God.  Amos issued many warnings to Judah and Israel because of their idolatry and sin God would certainly judge.  God gave Amos a series of visions to share with the people to aid their understanding.  Through Amos, God predicted the dispersion of His people and their ultimate restoration.

I don't know what is worse because they are both bad:  unbelievers who refuse to seek the LORD, or believers who also neglect to seek God.  My opinion is when believers actually seek after God with all their hearts, their influence to lead others to God will grow exponentially.  The problem is not so much with the unbelievers in the world because they are doing exactly as one might expect.  The heart of the issue is found in the hearts of professing Christians.  Instead of wringing our hands because of the sins of this world, may God rend our hearts for our feeble witness and propensity to seek anything but God.

In the days of Amos, the Jews who feared God were overtly religious.  They made pilgrimages to Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba.  At the time, Bethel was a place of gross idolatry.  King Jeroboam had set up two calves in Bethel so the people could "worship" without going to Jerusalem.  This of course was strictly forbidden under the Law God gave to Moses, but many people were willing to make worship of God more convenient.  Gilgal was the place were a monument of stones had been raised when the children of Israel first crossed over Jordan into the land of Canaan.  It was intended to memorialise what God had done in divinely parting the Jordan to allow His people entry into the land on dry ground.  Abraham and Isaac both called on the LORD in Beersheeba.  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree there, and Isaac built an altar to the one true God.  People thought by visiting these "holy sites" their efforts would be rewarded by God.  Though the people were very religious, despite their efforts and sacrifices, they neglected to do the most important thing:  to seek God!

Over the years, the worship of God had been reduced to a grab-bag of idolatry, tradition, sacrifices, offerings, and ancestor worship.  Through Amos, God rebuked the people for seeking after experiences rather than seeking Him.  At great cost they would travel to Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba, in their eyes a show of genuine piety and devotion.  But God told them otherwise.  "Seek Me and live!  Don't seek Bethel, Gilgal, or Beersheba!  Seek the LORD and live!"  Worship of God was life for the Jews.  God reminded them worship is empty in itself:  life could only be found in Him.  It is very easy to substitute a church building for Bethel, a Bible study for Gilgal, and an outreach for Beersheba.  May we never substitute anything for seeking God.  It is fine for you to go to church and teach a Bible study.  But are you seeking God when you go?  Do you hear His voice speaking to your heart?  Are you seeking God like you would for valuable treasure?

Life is not found in activities or service, but in God alone.  When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, He testified that the Bible was their Bethel.  They thought through obedience to the Law they would have life.  Interpreting and following the Law was their life, but it could never provide it!  Jesus said in John 5:39-40:  "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."  There is no life apart from Christ.  He is the world's only source of life, forgiveness, salvation, and peace.  The words spoken by Amos ring clear and loud today:  "Seek the LORD and live!"  Are you willing to come to Jesus that you may have life?  Seek the LORD while He may be found.