January 31
Straight from the Pastor’s heart by Dr. Hernes Abante
Joel 2:11-13 - “And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? [12] Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: [13] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Written by Prophet Joel, he effectively conveyed the Lord's message of repentance through the locust plague that devastated the land of Judah. Through the locust plague, he instilled in his listeners the importance of repentance and the consequences of their actions. Joel's message served as a potent reminder that even in times of despair, hope, and redemption are still possible.
After a swarm of locusts devastated the land, the people of Judah faced an even greater catastrophe - a severe famine that left them struggling to survive. Joel saw these events as a warning and felt compelled to speak out. He urged the people to turn away from their wicked ways and return to God, lest they face even greater calamities.
Joel's words sought to inspire hope and faith in the people, even amid such dire circumstances. He appeals to all the people and the priests of the land to fast and humble themselves as they seek God’s forgiveness. If they respond, there will be renewed material and spiritual blessings for the nation.
Joel revolves around the central theme of the “Day of the Lord,” a day of reckoning when God's wrath and judgment will be unleashed upon the world. On this day, God will reveal His attributes of wrath, power, and holiness, striking terror into the hearts of His enemies.
“The Day of the Lord” is not a singular event but a period of judgment and restoration, consisting of three fundamental aspects. Firstly, it involves the judgment of God's people, where they will be held accountable for their actions. Secondly, foreign nations will also face God's judgment, and their sins will be punished. Finally, God's people will undergo intense suffering, leading to their purification and restoration.
This period will be a time of great upheaval, and the locusts that once seemed so fearsome will pale in comparison to the divine retribution that will be unleashed upon the world.
The prophetic visions of the future, like the ones in Joel and the book of Revelation, may feel disconnected from our everyday lives. However, their striking depictions of ruin should rouse us from our spiritual complacency.
If we struggle with being too comfortable, a potent dose of apocalyptic imagery, as seen in Joel, could help us recognize the importance of remaining steadfastly faithful to God every moment of our existence.
Joel reminds us that the Day of the Lord will be a great and terrible moment, one that we cannot endure. However, if we place our faith in Christ for the atonement of our sins, we need not fear judgment. God's judgment is certain and thorough, but if we put our trust in Him instead of our possessions, we can rest assured that we will be saved.
God's mercy and grace have provided us with a definitive plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and exchanged them for His perfect righteousness. Let us not delay in accepting this gift of salvation, for God's judgment will come quickly, and we must be prepared. Today is the day of salvation. Only by appropriating God’s salvation can we escape His wrath on the Day of the Lord.
Our Prayer for today:
Lord, You are in control of everything in this world, including the works of nature. As You have allowed the plague of locusts during Joel’s time, You have allowed many devastations during our time to speak to us and warn us to repent and make our paths straight. Soon, the time of reckoning will come. May we all be ready on that day. We pray that those who have not trusted in You as Savior will realize that today is the time to repent and be saved. In Jesus Name. Amen!