So you long for the Day of the Lord?

There were also escapists in Israel, who longed for the "Day of the Lord," just as there are those
today to wish for the rapture to take them out of all the misery in the world.  They might as well pray
for death, for that would accomplish the same thing. But they are enjoying the world too much to
pray for death.

Those who pray for the coming of the Lord do not know what they pray for.  To the escapists of
Amos' day he wrote: 

"Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is
darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house,
and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.  Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness,
and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"   Amos 5:18-20.

The first social result of the coming of Christ to Israel when He was born in Bethlehem was this: the
slaughter of the children by Herod.  Do you think that the travail of Israel in bringing forth the
Messiah was a bed of ease on perfumed couches?  Do you think that the bringing of all his enemies
under his feet will be accomplished by Christians who park their luxury cars, and go to sit in padded
pews in air conditioned churches, drinking flavored latte, wiggling to snappy music and listening to
preachers tell them that Christ is soon coming to deliver them from their discomfort of living in a
sinful world?  I think not, nor does the Bible support that.

Shall we enjoy the triumph without the battle?  Shall we reap the harvest without the plowing and the
sowing?  Shall we build on sand and expect the Lord to come and deliver us from the storms?  Shall
we foolish virgins expect the Lord to come and reward our lack of provision for the long wait and
endurance?  "Shall we be carried to the skies on flowr'y beds of ease; while others fought to win the
price and sailed through bloody seas?"  Are we not become false prophets of comfort and ease, part
of the wilderness and not voices crying out?

James 1:12  "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the
crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
There is more, but this is enough for now.