The Day’s Come

Amos 8:11
“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:”

God says in the verse above, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land…” If God was going to send a famine in the land, that means that they were not in a famine when the prophet spoke these words. The prophet was warning God’s people that they had better heed the words of the LORD while they had them instead of taking them for granted every time they heard them. Israel was spoiled to have so many prophets speak God’s Word to them, and the abundance of God’s prophets speaking caused Israel to take for granted this blessing. God was warning Israel that while they had the privilege of hearing the words of the LORD, they had better enjoy them because those days would not always abound.

A very important lesson is being taught in this verse, and that lesson is that you should never take for granted what you have in life because the days will come that you will wish you could have those things back. Was it not the disciples who lamented that their hearts burned within them while they walked in the way with Jesus? Was it not those in captivity in Babylon who declared they would not sing the songs of Zion while they lived in a heathen nation? You see, these people took for granted what they had, and when it was gone, they wished they could have it back.

My pastor for many years, Dr. Jack Hyles, used to say that one day he would not walk out from the door he entered to preach. He was trying to get his congregation to enjoy what God was doing through the preaching and souls being saved because the days would come when he would no longer be there, and if we didn’t enjoy these things while we had them, we would wish we could have those days back.

The days of famine will come for all. Life is a cycle of ups and downs. You had better enjoy the blessings while you are living in the abundance of life because the days will come when the famine controls your life. One of the great mistakes people make is that they take for granted what they have and then wish they could have it back once it is gone. If you don’t take for granted God’s blessings while you have them, you won’t have to live in regret of not enjoying them while you had them. Before the famine comes, you had better appreciate what you have while you have it.

My friend, you had better enjoy your family while you have them with you. Your parents won’t always be alive, so you better enjoy them while you have them. While your children live in your house, you had better not take them for granted because the days will come when they will be gone. Many have waited until they walked by the casket to be with a person when they should have enjoyed them while they were alive. You can’t bring your parents back once they are gone, so now is the time to spend with them while you have them.

Moreover, if God is working in your church, you had better enjoy what God is doing through your preacher’s ministry because he won’t always be there. The days will come when God takes your pastor to Heaven, and you will wish you had been more involved and given more attention to his presence while you had him. The days will come for all, but before those days of famine come, enjoy the days of bounty so that you don’t live a life of regret.

Author: Allen Domelle