Joel 2:1 KJV
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
The Context and Focus:
As you read the book of Joel, it is clear again that God's standards will not be lowered for anyone or anything. Sin is and will always be a reproach to anyone, and He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. The chapter before the one in which the verse above is taken shows how God punished the land for its sin. There was total destruction on a scale that had never been seen before. As one agent of destruction was finishing its work, another agent came to take over what was left. This is what happens when a man goes into sin; you expose yourself to destruction and disaster, because there is now no more cover from God. The people were still bent on making offerings and sacrifices, not knowing that God had departed the land. The enemy that could not even dare look at the land of Israel had become the enemy empowered to strip it of all its glory and possessions. There is no other way to make this clear: sin messes a man's life up and seeks to destroy him. It is something I have to pay close attention to, as I seek a life of impact and influence.
The Message:
God calls out to all of us to check our ways and make amends where necessary. God had made known His will, and He has also provided the grace and help I need to make the right decisions, but He will not force His will on me, or compel me to choose Him. He desires that I choose Him, but because He is a God of love and justice, He has to allow me come to Him out of a heart that knows and recognises His love. This decision has to be made at the right time, because I have not been promised endless time to make up my mind. There is a day that is coming; a day that nobody can actually predict precisely, but in keeping with everything that God has said, which have all come to pass, as well as the ones He has also said will happen in the future, you can be sure that nothing said by God will fail to come to pass. A day is coming when all the secrets of men's hearts will be revealed, and all men will be judged based on the standards laid out in God's word, and the contents of men's hearts.
The Conclusion:
It is utter foolishness to pick and choose only the promises that make you comfortable, and seek to reject the ones that speak of eternal doom. The day requires me to make some personal preparations. Today's verse says that there must be a public declaration for the people to prepare, and that tells me that it is my duty to warn people of that day. If I am to prepare well, I have to watch my life's choices, pursuits and priorities today. The alarm has to go out urgently to the whole world, that the Lord will return shortly. There is no earthly preparation that can make the day of the Lord pleasant for anyone, unless you have given your life to Jesus and accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour. This is the only decision that counts towards my eternal reality. For all who look forward to that day, make sure you are living right, and encouraging others to do the same. May sin not have control of my life. May the day of the Lord meet me in the will of the Lord. God's time of favour is here.
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