“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD” (Amos 8:11).
In July of 1886, the great Baptist preacher of London, Charles Spurgeon, introduced a sermon with an interesting story.
During the infamous reign of the Roman emperor, Nero, a great famine threatened Rome. During the famine, many starving people would stand along the seashore, anxiously waiting for the merchant ships they hoped would be carrying food. But when the ships arrived, their hopes were dashed by a cruel discovery.
The ships were indeed loaded with cargo, but not what the starving masses anticipated. Nero had commandeered all of the trading vessels in Rome to bring sand for the gladiators’ arena. In an act of complete indifference, Nero neglected the need of his hungry people for the sake of frivolous entertainment.
Standing nearby was a ship owner, who turned to his shipmaster and commanded him to take his ships once again to Alexandria. This time, the shipmaster was to bring nothing but wheat and corn. The owner told him not to carry so much as a pinch of sand. People were dying, he said, and his ships would henceforth be committed to bringing what the people so desperately needed.
Spurgeon ended his introduction with the following:
“I have seen certain mighty galleys of late loaded with nothing but mere sand of philosophy and speculation, and I have said within myself, ‘Nay, but I will bear nothing but the revealed truth of God, the Bread of Life so desperately needed by the people.'”
The years that have passed since Spurgeon preached that message have truly brought a host of changes to this world. But in spite of all the advancements, one thing hasn’t changed. People are still starving for the Word of God.
While the hungry people may not all be gathering on the same shoreline, their desperation is plain to see. Unbelieving men and women wander from experience to experience, looking for something to fill the void within. For some, it’s drugs or alcohol. For others, it’s sex, money, or possessions. Still others try to find true fulfillment in their job, a relationship, or a hobby.
But no matter how fast they run or how hard they search, they never find satisfaction. Drugs and alcohol kill. Relationships disintegrate. Jobs change and sometimes are lost. Money runs out. Ultimately, what the world offers is as satisfying to their souls as a handful of sand is to a starving man.
The only true satisfaction comes from one source: the Word of God. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). God’s Word is a necessary element to life. It dispels doubts and dissolves loneliness. It gives purpose. Above all, the Bible tells us about God — His character, His law, and the redemption He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ. Real life comes from knowing the Lord, and that happens only by hearing God’s Word.
That’s why we are committed to teaching and preaching the whole counsel of God. When you come to our church, you won’t be fed the shifting sands of human opinion and philosophy, which will leave you hungry still. You will hear the Word of God. Come and hear God’s Word taught and preached this week!