Living Within the "Much More"

Scripture:
"On Judgment Day, watch out!"
These are the words of God, my Master.
"I’ll turn off the sun at noon.
In the middle of the day the earth will go black.
I’ll turn your parties into funerals
and make every song you sing a dirge.
Everyone will walk around in rags,
with sunken eyes and bald heads.
Think of the worst that could happen
—your only son, say, murdered.
That’s a hint of Judgment Day
—that and much more."
Amos 8:9-10

Observation: The Lord is preparing judgment on Israel, and the description of that day is very interesting. It includes ... the sun darkening in the middle of the day ... festivals being turned into a time of great sorrow ... the sadness of an only son being put to death.

There was a day to come, about 750 years after this was written, when - in the midst of the Passover celebration - all of Israel was put into turmoil, tens of thousands had their celebration interrupted, hundreds went into mourning, the sun itself was blacked out at midday, an earthquake damaged the temple, and one man - God's one and only son - was crucified, killed, and buried in a tomb, despite being found innocent of all wrongdoing by the authorities. And it is now, by our understanding of that son and of his resurrection from the dead, that we are judged. We are either judged guilty of our sins because we have no way of proving our goodness before the Lord, or we are judged innocent because we place total faith in the crucified son, who then offers us grace through his death, and eternal life through our belief, all because of the father's (God, my Master) love.

Application: Again today I declare my faith and belief in Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior. I believe in Jesus, God incarnate born of a virgin, judged unjustly, crucified dead and buried, resurrected from death, taken into heaven, and seated on the judgement seat at the right hand of the Lord God almighty, creator of heaven and earth. It is by this revelation, available through the impartment of the Holy Spirit, that I trust in these things entirely and completely.

I can only imagine the pain and sorrow on the day of Jesus' death, but that was only a "hint of Judgment Day."  I live on the other side of the event that occurred three days later ... the time of "much more".

Prayer: Lord, your word is amazing. The prophetic revelation of Messiah gives us logic, but your Holy Spirit also gives us all the heartfelt emotion to understand just a little of your love. May I praise you forever and ever. Amen.