A few days ago, I read in the newspaper that a man named Anders Wiklof was fined the sum of pound16,457 for a single speeding offense -- a new world record. The reason for the large penalty was that the offense occurred in Finland and fines are related to earnings. Mr. Wiklof is a millionaire. "To whom much has been given much is expected."

Now the person who said that was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ speaking about the final judgment at His return. Let me read His words in Luke 12:48: "... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

You see, it is very easy for Christians to fall into the same trap as the Israelites -- to think we are exempt from God's judgment because we are His people. So we come to treat sin lightly and to disbelieve in the prospect of God's judgment so far as we are concerned. And what is true of individuals is also true of churches and nations. But we need to remember that privilege carries a price and "To whom much has been given much is expected."

But God warns us through a prophet like Amos and supremely through His Son, Jesus, that there is no sin without judgment. That is the first principle which Amos establishes. But thankfully there is also a second principle:

2 No Judgment without Warning

Look again at verses 7 and 8: "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. The lion has roared -- who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken -- who can but prophesy?"

Although the Lord would be fully justified in executing judgment on His people Israel immediately -- after all, the terms of the covenant were clearly laid down in many places -- none the less, He does not do so. Instead, He sends His spokesmen, the prophets, to warn them of coming judgment in order that they might listen and change their ways.

The lion roars, but he has not yet pounced. Disaster is imminent but there is still a last chance of escape for the victim.

This is what Amos knows, and this is why he must speak -- despite the unpopularity of what he has to say -- so much so that later in the book we discover that both priest and king, religious and secular authorities, try to get him to shut up.

But he must speak, and he must warn, for he is under a divine commission and compulsion. The Lord will bring disaster upon His people, and Amos has no choice but to announce it.

God never acts in judgment without first of all revealing what He is about to do to His spokesmen and instructing them to warn His people. Why? Because He is a God of mercy not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. As the Lord said through another prophet, Ezekiel, He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but longs that they turn from their wicked ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11).