AMOS 9:11-15 HOPE FOR THE FAITHFUL

11 “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be, 12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the LORD, who will do these things.
13 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills. 14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

In spite of the disobedience of the people God’s plan for the world will be accomplished. As the old American spiritual puts it, “This train is bound for glory.” Now God’s train is not a prison train with all its passengers chained and shackled in their seats. Rather, the passengers on this train are free to roam about and enjoy the ride as they look forward to the destination. Part of that freedom is the liberty to get off the train whenever it makes a stop, and even to choose not to get back on when it resumes its journey. There appears to be nothing to stop passengers from uncoupling their car from the rest of the train, if they so choose. Some have also been known to try to hijack the train, but they always end up being put off the train at some point. Those passengers who stay connected to the engine through faith in the Engineer will arrive at the ultimate destination, no matter what all the other passengers decide to do.

God has a plan and there is no power on earth or in heaven that can derail it. Like passengers in a train we can only see the landscape as it passes by our windows. Only the Engineer knows what is in front of the train and when the destination is in sight. He is also the only one who really knows when we will arrive. While it is a hope for us, it is a reality for the Engineer. If we want to arrive, we need to take our seats and trust that he will deliver on the promise of a successful arrival.

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 10:35-11:1)

Lord God, thank you for giving me a reservation on your train through your Son. May your Spirit ever accompany me so that I will not yield to the temptation to grumble about the trip, a temptation that leads to disconnecting myself from you and prematurely ending the trip. Amen.