THE VALLEY OF DECISION

THE VALLEY OF DECISION

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

For many years, I believed and taught that it was the PEOPLE who were making the decision-- to serve God or not serve Him.

But, that theory is one which the Lord stripped away when I became willing for Him to teach me what the scriptures were trying to tell us. After quite a bit of tearing down my former beliefs, He was able to start teaching me what is, I believe, more in line with His plan for humanity.

The word "decision" throws us off course, because it has come to mean differently now than it did when the KJV was translated.

I was sent a writing of a 17th century writer a few years ago, in which the word "decision" was used in its historical sense. It sheds light on the "valley of decision" which brings it more into line with the remainder of the passage.

In 1619, when the article was penned, the writer said that there would come a DECISION, in which the true believers would be SEPARATED from those who were not entirely sold out to God. IT IS GOD WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION-- separating the wheat from the chaff, a "threshing" if you will.

Only HE knows the HEARTS of men. We have to judge by the sight of the eye and the hearing of the ear. He reads the heart.

This is pinpointed in Mal 3 where it tells about the Lord making up His Jewels. They will be those who-- Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often (lit: Consulted) one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that FEARED the LORD, and that THOUGHT (lit: Reckoned) upon his name.

Malachi 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:18 Then shall ye return (lit: look back or around), and discern (see clearly) between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (There is a vast difference between those who SERVE God, and those who joyfully bask in the sunshine of His Forgiveness, and neglect the personal refinement which He offers to them.)

II Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWETH them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of GOLD and of SILVER, but also of WOOD and of EARTH; and some to HONOUR, and some to DISHONOUR. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

It is my firm belief that Malachi wrote of the same time of "decision" (separation) as Joel did when he wrote: Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit [as] a REFINER and PURIFIER of silver: and he shall PURIFY the SONS OF LEVI, and PURGE them as gold and silver, THAT THEY MAY OFFER UNTO THE LORD AN OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

God bless!