Issue 1372 – Darkness – February 16, 2024
It was a long night; we had been visiting a community a couple of hours from home. As we left the lights of town and pulled out onto the highway, we were quickly surrounded by darkness. The night was black. Cloud cover blocked out all the stars and moon; the only light was from our headlights.
The blackness of the night seemed to devour any light that came its way. It was the sort of darkness where you could not have seen your face in front of your hand without adding light.
Driving through the blackness, I was reminded of the words of the prophet Joel.
Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. Joel 3:14-16a
The future for those who reject the Lord or abuse His people is bleak. For them, the sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars will no longer shine. There will be an eternity of the oppressive blackness of the night.
Yet, the long will be a stronghold for His people, a safe refuge. There will be abundance.
But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord. Joel 16b-18
Eternal darkness or eternal joy … all is decided in the valley of decision. We walk through the valley of decision our entire life. We all have an opportunity to become one of God’s people, but none of us knows at what point the valley ends and the darkness begins. None of us knows the moment of our demise.
We have a choice to make. We can walk in light, or we can spend eternity in a spiritual darkness that will make the worst this life has to offer look like a banquet. The darkness of the night will be remembered as being the brightest of moments compared to the despair of eternity without Him.
Those of us who have the light need to offer it to others walking in darkness. They are responsible for their choice, but in love we can present them with the choice,
Until next time, rejoice if you have given your life to Christ. You will exit the valley of decision into glory.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
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