The Secure and the Complacent

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”
Amos 6:1–7
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The Secure and the Complacent
We often think we are safe when we are not. God declares woes to those that are at ease and woes to those that feel secure. We are never secure in our sin. Our sin should never make us at ease. We have transgressed the Law of God and deserve his wrath and righteous judgment. There is no place that we can go to save ourselves from the wrath of God. There is no place that we can go that will provide protection from his anger. It is the sin of mankind that has kindled it. It is our sins that have caused this. Only if our Lord Jesus Christ comes are we secure because he has stopped the wrath of God by dying on the cross. His death was the perfect sacrifice that has changed our station before God. We have been changed from our sinful state to the righteous state of Christ. We were not children of God, but then in the waters of Baptism, we are made children of God like Jesus. The only place we are safe is in the loving arms of Jesus. In other words, we are safe when we hear his Word and receive his sacraments. We are at ease in the community of believers and in the presence of Christ Jesus. Do not look to yourself for safety and security, instead, look to Jesus. He has become your blessing.