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.

Joel the prophet speaks of the glorious day in which Christ will descend to this earth to be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel. It speaks of the triumphant day when Christ will save His people—when He shall come down and smite all the heathen round about. He shall consume them with the sword of His mouth. He shall fight for His own, and with His own at His side. All the saints shall be with Him when He comes to judge the whole world. And this day will be a day of decision. It shall come to pass in the valley of Jehoshaphat, at Armageddon, the place where the forces of the ages shall be together at one. And they shall fight one another, but it shall not be a fight. For Christ will simply destroy them with the sword of His mouth. It shall be a decisive victory! There will be no formidable opposition. They all shall vanish and be vanquished at once. No competition shall threaten the Lamb of God. He shall reign supreme in a moment.

The valley of decision! The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision! In this valley all shall be decided. It will be decided on that day who is King—who is Lord. And there shall be no question as to who that is. It shall be the decision of all decisions. And it will take place in a valley. Now here is my contention. Are not all major and monumental decisions made in a valley? Is it not true that all must come to a valley in order that the truth may be decided? This is, of course, not by accident that it transpires exactly this way. It is the valley of decision! They must come down into the valley so that the decision might be made.

Dear friend, is there a decision that must be made in your experience? Have you a choice to make? Are you halting between two opinions? Are you weighing the options, trying to determine an answer? Are you vacillating and oscillating between ideas? Dear one, God wants to help you make the decision. But be sure, my friend, you will be brought down to a valley first. And in that valley, the decision will be made. Important decisions are rarely made on the mountain. When your experience is at its height, and when your life is without trial, you rarely will be called upon to make a consequential decision. But when God wants you to understand His perfect will, and when He wants you to make a life-changing and life-altering decision, He will bring you into the valley. The valley of decision! It is a valley in which goodness can triumph and evil can be banished. It is an essential place, a place to which we all must come. It may be arduous, it may be a tough place, and it may be a battle that must be fought. But dear friends, it’s the valley of decision! It is only for a time. You will not stay in the valley of decision. For it is only that! It is only for making the decision. Then will come your ascent out of the valley to the next mountain of experience. Do not protest this valley. It is a great place to be, and must be accepted as a place of God’s choosing. May the Lord guide you into and out of this valley of decision!

“Father, we thank you for the truth that you have clearly taught us this day. Just as you will decide the outcome of the ages in a great valley in the end times, so the course of our lives will be decided in a valley. May we use the valley well, submitting to you, so that your ways may have absolute sway in our lives. We thank you for the valley of decision. Guide us through it, we pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”