Right now I am sitting inside the Regal Cinema 10 movie theatre waiting for some friends of mine.
They went to see "San Andreas", (not a plug for the movie.)
As i wait for them, words from the Prophet Joel come rushing to the forefront of my mind, the depthsof its meaning filling my head. 3 days have passed since I read those fateful words, concerning the nation of Israel then, but now maybe a prophecy on the United States today.
Joel 3:13-14 (v13) "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow for their wickedness is great.
(v14) Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."
From those words alone, I nearly fainted with fear. Looking out at my city and, seeing daily, the direction this country is going in, we as a people have come to the very threshold of "the Valley of Decision".
The Word of God is no longer seen as an absolute. Sadly enough, not even within some churches.
After teaching in a Capernaum synagogue, many of those who had been following walking with Jesus, decided to go back to their old lifestyles. The teachings of Christ had become to hard for them. For those who turned away, life was becoming too complicated and the committment too great. At some point in between the first step it took to follow Him and the first step it took to leave Him, all the information they needed as to: A. Who he was, B. What He was here to do, and C. The cost associated with his mission, had been provided. This was the literal fork-in-the road. A choice needed to be made.
Some have proposed that hundreds if not thousands of people chose that day to leave Jesus, leaving only the twelve.
Even then Jesus asked the twelve who remained, "Do you also want to go away?"
Peter's response to His question opened this post. The men picked by Jesus cannot fully understand why these people chose to walk away from so great a salvation. Their eyes had seen the miracles and their ears had heard the teachings. Yet, within the hearts of the great multitude there was unbelief.
John 6:63-64 (Jesus talking) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe."
Many pulpits across this country have altered their views of the bible and the inerriancy of the bible. Doctrines that have stood for thousands of years are said to be outdated and revised to suit the needs of a more modern generation. False teachers and false prophets spout off from their easy chairs and leather couches "Jesus is not the only way to heaven". Scores of people follow after the celebrity vote and say they believe in the false doctrine of salvation.
Israel was in the throws of idolatry when Joel gave his message of warning. God called for His people to return to Him with all their hearts with fasting, weeping and mourning. For God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.
God is also calling His other people, the church, to return to Him with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rending their hearts and not the garments they wear.
God is also calling for the nations of the earth to turn from their wicked ways. Will they?
I pray that they do. His judgments are coming now as they were with Israel then.
Will we, while in the "Valley of Decision" choose to follow after God or continue to invite His judgments upon our lands? The decision is yours and yours alone. It is literally life or death.
No comments:
Post a Comment