Joel 3:9-16
I Marvel At The Wisdom Of My God. God has set a time in history for judgment of the nations, it has been declared, it has been consecrated and the nations of the world will come to a Valley that Joel refers to as Jehoshaphat to make war against Israel, all their energies will go to this purpose. Can you envision what that is going to look like, the best of the best out front, the best of technology and skilled warriors, with the latest and greatest tools of war, never in all of mankind has the world seen anything close to this. The odds made in casinos of the world are saying God and Israel are such a long shot they will not take bets, the war will not last one day.
From the time Jesus returned to His Father, men have been giving a timeline for His return, others have made fun of those who follow Jesus and said it is just a fable but it’s worth a read. Verses 8 and 9, give this insight; “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” My friend Carroll Ray Jr. wrote on the Omega man, the last person to receive Jesus Christ, for in God’s plan there will be one last person that comes to repentance before this final day of the LORD’s return. Could that person be you?
Often the Father does not share all the information and yes, that is where faith comes into play, but not blind faith, for in the apostle Paul’s letters to the Romans, we are told that man has been given from the beginning all the information needed to place faith in God. Romans 1 should be read and reread by all people; verses 18-21, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
But in this final battle we have this insight from John’s Revelation, now sit down, this is better than Hollywood, better than any superhero, it’s Jesus the only Son of God, and by the name He is called “The Word of God,” do you recall the gospel of John chapter 1:1, Jesus is called “The Word,” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Now Jesus “The Word of God” comes riding out of heaven on a White horse, and the armies of heaven are behind Him on white horses. We need to look at the armies of the earth there in the valley, overhead they have the most powerful air force ever assembled, many of the planes are stealth aircraft designed to avoid detection using a variety of stealth technologies that reduce reflection/emission of radar. On the ground are long-range missals with nukes and armies and equipment that have never been seen before, and how can anyone stand against such force.
It is getting interesting, for out of the rider on the white horse, the one who is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called The Word of God, and from His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. That if Jesus wins, and you should not be surprised, for, in the book of beginnings, Genesis 1:1-3, this same Jesus spoke the world into being.
So if you have not bowed your knee to the rider on the white horse, the one we call Jesus, you may be the one He is waiting for. Many of us can’t wait to see Jesus against the world, in this battle, but we are sure of the outcome. And my dear Jewish friend, verse 16, tells us that the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment