Prepare to Meet Thy God

Amos deals with the great sin of the people of Israel and is expressing God’s frustration in the fourth chapter. Despite all manner of punishments God had already levied upon them, there was no repentance found. Therefore Amos utters, “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12). We need to prepare ourselves lest when we meet our God in the day of judgment our deeds are found wanting and our name is absent from the book of life (II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12, 15).

Prepare to meet thy God in fellowship. We need to have a relationship with God. He is our Father and Christians are His children (Romans 8:15). When we become part of Christ’s body that is described as His bride we become a part of God’s family (Revelation 21:2, 9). However some Christians act as if they can remain in that relationship while ignoring the opportunities to commune with Him in worship (Hebrew 10:24-25; I Corinthians 10:16).

Prepare to meet thy God in worship. When we commune with Him in worship we must make sure that the worship given is an acceptable sacrifice. Jesus taught that sacrifice to God should be postponed until our relationships are right with our brethren (Matthew 5:24). How we worship has always been important to God because in order to be true worshippers we must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). The only way to rightly divide between false worship and true worship is to study the word of God (II Timothy 2:15).

Prepare to meet thy God in His word. Creation is sufficient to teach us that there is a God, but we can only learn about that God from His word (Romans 1:20, I John 2:3). We have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness and thereby we may be changed by His word so that we can be pleasing to Him and fruitful in every good work (II Peter 1:3; Colossians 1:9-10). For this cause we would desire that His word would be uplifted in our world, our nation, and certainly in our churches, though such is not always the case. However, I can make sure the Bible is uplifted in my family.

Prepare to meet thy God in the family. If you are a father or mother, husband or wife, make sure the family is being prepared to meet Him. Parents should desire and stress above everything else that their children become faithful Christians. In order to develop a spiritual legacy such as this, parents must diligently teach their children the law of God (Deuteronomy 6:4-12). If your goal is to get your family to heaven you must prepare them for it. Perhaps you aren’t in a position to make sure the Bible is uplifted in your family at this point in your life. Make sure you uplift it yourself that you might save yourself and be a good example to others (Acts 2:40; I Peter 3:1-2).

Prepare to meet thy God in judgment. The words of Christ will judge us in the end (John 12:47-48). We will never know when that day comes until it does. Let’s make sure we are ready for that day by being watchful (I Thessalonians 5:2-6). Careless souls will linger and fail to prepare to meet God. Let’s not spurn His invitation to prepare ourselves for that day.