Introduction: When you think of a loaded wagon in scripture, what text do you think of? Personally, I can not help but to think of the David in Psalms 68:19 (Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.) Without a doubt we have a picture of a loaded wagon in this text. The wagon is ours and God has loaded us with benefits. God is continually loading us each and every day of our lives with blessing. What a tremendous word of praise should be lifted heavenward for his blessings on our lives. This is one picture of a loaded wagon that we enjoy viewing, but there is another loaded wagon in scripture that many had rather not look upon. They would like to push this loaded wagon off into obscurity somewhere into the corner of the barn where it is out of sight. The problem is that this wagon bears such a tremendous load that it is absolutely unmovable. Today we would like to consider a text found in the book of Amos that speaks of God as a wagon and our sins as the load. Consider the following with me this particular morning that we see in our text:
I. Consider the Sad Result of our Sin.
May the entirety of earth and all that abides therein be amazed that the great God of the entire universe and all that is beyond proclaim that He is pressed down by sin. We never read anywhere so much as half of a suggestion that God has ever been weighed down by the whole burden of creation (Isaiah 40:15 “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.). How utterly amazing it is that sin bears upon our God until He is pressed full and heavy-laden.
God is loaded down and broken hearted over the sad effect sin has had upon his creation. Notice what sin has done to His marvelous creation:
A. Sin has Blighted His creation.
~ Genesis 3:17
B. Sin has Blackened His creation.
~ Romans 3:9-19
C. Sin has Blinded His creation.
~ I John 2:11 “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
~ II Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
D. Sin has Banished His creation.
~ Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
II. Consider the Shocking Restraint of the Sovereign.
How shocking it is that God would deal so patiently with the sons of fallen man! Who are we that God would be merciful to us, that when we receive mercy, we sin with an even higher hand because of that mercy? Have you ever stopped to think about how many of God’s servants are in His presence just waiting to execute His vengeance upon us. The earth says, “Why should I yield a harvest to the plow of the wicked?” The lightening thunders out and ask, “Can I but this once smite the rebels that so openly rebel against your authority?” The winds kick up and say, “Let me blow this sin tarnished land clean for you master!” The rain pelts down and says, “Let me wash them from existence as I did in Noah’s day!”
God’s power is truly demonstrated most in the restraint of His judgment toward the wicked.
III. Consider the Sobering Revelation of the Sinner.
The sobering revelation of the sinner will come at the end of his journey and he finds that the load of sin that God patiently bore is now his to bear up under. Unforutnately he will not be able to withstand the crushing weight of such a load and he will utterly perish because of his sin.
IV. Consider the Sure Remedy of the Savior.
The Lord Jesus has come to be a substitute for all who would by faith accept Him. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Dear sinner do you believe that? Will you accept Him as your own personal substitute? Will you let Him carry your load of guilt? If not, “How will you escape if you neglect so great salvation?”
