LATE! ITʼS NOT TOO
by Robyn Starr
Isn’t Joel such a nice name? But oftentimes, Joel simply gets a bad rap. Old Testament, Joel that is, somehow he manages to get thrown into the same category as God of the Universe. Many erroneously envision The King sitting on his throne, scowling with a giant baseball bat in his hand and ready to swing it at every misstep and mistake. After we have been beaten to a pulp emotionally and spiritually, he may relent, but only after we feebly manage to make amends for our guilt-ridden souls. Similarly, Joel 2 oftentimes gets erroneously represented by well meaning, yet unacquainted individuals with the God of love. Certainly, Joel and many of the Scriptures give us feeble humans, warnings that our choices do indeed have consequences. Unfortunately, too
often, we forget the fact that our choices always come with a balance sheet. We choose whether we make a deposit or a withdrawal. But Joel, also gives us a glimpse into a side of God that unfortunately many souls have never experienced in real time. The God of extravagant love. Before we go any further, let’s push aside any previous misperceptions of these verses. Especially those who have heard messages of doom and gloom. There are so much more than warnings here. Though warnings from God; as with any good parent is just pure love, expressed in a somber and caring intent. In the first part of Joel 2, it does speak of impending invasion. Invasion no matter how you look at it is not a good thing. Have we not had our lives invaded with some sort of
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