A. God’s Punishment
Sin is sin ... disobedience regarding God’s standard which is literally found throughout the entirety of scripture. There are no large sins or small sins, there is only SIN. Just as the horde of locust overwhelmed the land of Judah, destroying all of their crops, so the day of the Lord shall overwhelm all those who have sinned against God. A reckoning is coming ... a day of settling accounts with the Lord. The day that will judge how we’ve lived our lives is fast approaching. The Jews in Joel’s day fluffed it off. Will you? Are you right with God, not by your own assessment, but according to God’s Word?
God is the One they had to reckon with, and it is no different today. We won’t have to face nature, the economy, or a foreign invader ... we will have to face the creator of all things. Just as we saw that Israel couldn’t ignore or offend God forever, so we won’t be able to do that either. Pay attention to His message now or face His anger later. This isn’t a game. Take very seriously how you live your life in the present so as not to incur His wrath later.
B. God’s Forgiveness
God is always ready and willing to forgive and restore anyone who comes to Him with a sincere and contrite heart seeking forgiveness. Restoration comes only with sincere repentance.
As the saying goes, “Talk is cheap ... actions speak louder than words.” Look at 1 John 3:18 ... “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed, and in truth.” You must understand that God WANTS to shower his children with His love and restore them to a proper relationship with Him.
Forgiveness comes by turning from sin and turning to God. Doing what I refer to as “doing a 180”. You walk away from your past life. Until the final trumpet sounds there is time to receive God’s forgiveness. The Lord’s greatest desire is for you to come to Him.
Man works so hard to make himself successful in the eyes of the world rather than seek the guidance and loving direction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden light.” Don’t strive to be like anyone in this world, for unless they know the Lord, it would be the blind leading the blind. The Jews were prideful and in turning away from God they sealed their own fate.
C. The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Joel 2:28 tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit who will fall on all His people. That will be a new beginning of sorts, a new and fresh worship of God. It will also signify the beginning of judgement on all who have rejected the Lord.
Once one grasps the concept that God is in complete control of all things, they will understand that justice and restoration are also in His hands. God’s love for us is confirmed by the Holy Spirit within us who has our life under His care. This is true for the Jews back them and all Christians down thru the years. Learn from the failures of the Jews and remain forever faithful to God even as He remains faithful to you.
Up next is the book of Amos. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.
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