| VALLEY of DECISION |
In an eschatological sense (biblical end times), The Valley of Decision setout in Joel 3:14, is the place where God will inform
those assembled as to the magnitude of His Judgment upon them. This valley is not a place, wrongfully interpreted by some,
where mankind has one last opportunity to choose God and His Righteousness versus the wickedness found in the ways of
the world. Once in this Valley, God's Judgment is brought to bear upon the unbelieving, as well as the enemies of God's
People. God here is evidencing His righteous Judgment, and releasing the consequence for disobedience, unbelief and
prolonged waywardness. In short, this accounting is where 'God will decide about men, not where men decide about God'.
Once one finds himself in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (viz. Decision), it is a given he has already made his choice about God and
God in turn is thusly rendering His verdict on that decision. We seldom hear sermons preached in America today, on this
scriptural text, very possibly due to its consequential message for sinfulness, waywardness, against the enemies of God and
Israel alike.
those assembled as to the magnitude of His Judgment upon them. This valley is not a place, wrongfully interpreted by some,
where mankind has one last opportunity to choose God and His Righteousness versus the wickedness found in the ways of
the world. Once in this Valley, God's Judgment is brought to bear upon the unbelieving, as well as the enemies of God's
People. God here is evidencing His righteous Judgment, and releasing the consequence for disobedience, unbelief and
prolonged waywardness. In short, this accounting is where 'God will decide about men, not where men decide about God'.
Once one finds himself in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (viz. Decision), it is a given he has already made his choice about God and
God in turn is thusly rendering His verdict on that decision. We seldom hear sermons preached in America today, on this
scriptural text, very possibly due to its consequential message for sinfulness, waywardness, against the enemies of God and
Israel alike.
In today's world, secular mankind often operates off a premise which reads like, "we can get by and away with most anything
until we are caught, and even then, will have another opportunity to decide whether to fess-up or manage our excuses better".
Several misguided assumptions are embedded therein, the least of which implies, 'God has infinite patience for mankind's
wicked ways, and man does not have to really change until he is divinely apprehended.' Scripture tells us in Gen. 6:3, that God
has gracious patience until mankind's unrelenting disobedience forces Him to consider otherwise. Further, that God will not
contend (strive) with mankind's rebellious waywardness forever. There will be a day of Divine accountability. Many believe we
are approaching the time known as the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat - 2 Cor. 5:10) for believer's while the Great White
Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) is reserved for unbelievers, 1,000 yrs. later?. For the discerning Christian, it is imperative to
understand the difference in God's purpose between 'the Seat' and 'the Throne', in these two scriptures. Simply, one is for
issuance of Christ's reward and the other is where God's punishment is to be meted out.
until we are caught, and even then, will have another opportunity to decide whether to fess-up or manage our excuses better".
Several misguided assumptions are embedded therein, the least of which implies, 'God has infinite patience for mankind's
wicked ways, and man does not have to really change until he is divinely apprehended.' Scripture tells us in Gen. 6:3, that God
has gracious patience until mankind's unrelenting disobedience forces Him to consider otherwise. Further, that God will not
contend (strive) with mankind's rebellious waywardness forever. There will be a day of Divine accountability. Many believe we
are approaching the time known as the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat - 2 Cor. 5:10) for believer's while the Great White
Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) is reserved for unbelievers, 1,000 yrs. later?. For the discerning Christian, it is imperative to
understand the difference in God's purpose between 'the Seat' and 'the Throne', in these two scriptures. Simply, one is for
issuance of Christ's reward and the other is where God's punishment is to be meted out.
Popularity of individual relativism (accountable only to thineownself), in the late 20th and beginning of the 21st Century, is most
disconcerting when considering the increasing numbers of young persons espousing such a personal philosophy. Persons
with a judgment, behavioral and/or belief system predicated on a foundation of situational morality, will by their own definition,
operate through circumstantial relativism. Historically, great civil disobedience (even in America) has always operated from a
position of what is right for the current situation, is just the right thing to do. An early sign of this type thinking is evidenced when
someone states, "there are no lasting absolutes" be they biblical (e.g., Ten Commandments), institutional or cultural. They
may qualify such a statement by, "there are laws which need to be observed, yet laws are made to be changed and adjusted to
fit the morality of the day". When asked, "where do your moral standards come from?" the answer often is "I just do what I
know is right at the time". Pressed further, "how do you know what is right at the time, if there are no absolutes to judge
against?"... their remaining answers usually become circular and oblique. God has given man absolutes, via scripture to live
by, in order to protect him from the excessive indulgences of the flesh and the carnality which so permeates the
ways-of-the-world.
disconcerting when considering the increasing numbers of young persons espousing such a personal philosophy. Persons
with a judgment, behavioral and/or belief system predicated on a foundation of situational morality, will by their own definition,
operate through circumstantial relativism. Historically, great civil disobedience (even in America) has always operated from a
position of what is right for the current situation, is just the right thing to do. An early sign of this type thinking is evidenced when
someone states, "there are no lasting absolutes" be they biblical (e.g., Ten Commandments), institutional or cultural. They
may qualify such a statement by, "there are laws which need to be observed, yet laws are made to be changed and adjusted to
fit the morality of the day". When asked, "where do your moral standards come from?" the answer often is "I just do what I
know is right at the time". Pressed further, "how do you know what is right at the time, if there are no absolutes to judge
against?"... their remaining answers usually become circular and oblique. God has given man absolutes, via scripture to live
by, in order to protect him from the excessive indulgences of the flesh and the carnality which so permeates the
ways-of-the-world.
Throughout scripture, many of God's judgments often occur when the recipients are seemingly unaware such are coming or
even have already arrived (e.g., great flood of Noah's day). Coming judgments are also setout in scripture e.g., the books of
Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, et al. through which we can even preview flash-points sparking today in and around Israel and the
Middle East. Question: does the current leadership in America (civilian, legislative, military, and/or marketplace) have an
awareness (or even any sense) of where we are in the outworking of God's end time Plan for the body-of-Christ (the Church)
and mankind in general? If Ephesians 1:10 holds the essence of God's end time Plan for mankind, then it would seem to
many that America is going in the opposite direction! [Eph. 1:10 - "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him (Christ):"] It doesn't
take a rocket-surgeon to recognize America's falling away and continued divestiture of Christian tenets, values, and doctrinal
truths throughout the public domain, educational system and Congressional legislation. Axioms such as ' you will be guided by
what you trust in, and will be judged by what you hold to and believe to be the Truth' - are still operative today, in both the
religious and secular worlds, even though the origin of each is almost diametrically oppositional.
even have already arrived (e.g., great flood of Noah's day). Coming judgments are also setout in scripture e.g., the books of
Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, et al. through which we can even preview flash-points sparking today in and around Israel and the
Middle East. Question: does the current leadership in America (civilian, legislative, military, and/or marketplace) have an
awareness (or even any sense) of where we are in the outworking of God's end time Plan for the body-of-Christ (the Church)
and mankind in general? If Ephesians 1:10 holds the essence of God's end time Plan for mankind, then it would seem to
many that America is going in the opposite direction! [Eph. 1:10 - "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him (Christ):"] It doesn't
take a rocket-surgeon to recognize America's falling away and continued divestiture of Christian tenets, values, and doctrinal
truths throughout the public domain, educational system and Congressional legislation. Axioms such as ' you will be guided by
what you trust in, and will be judged by what you hold to and believe to be the Truth' - are still operative today, in both the
religious and secular worlds, even though the origin of each is almost diametrically oppositional.
From scripture we learn that God makes His decision to pronounce judgment before He releases the consequence onto
mankind and their disobedience, thus showing HIm not to be capricious, arbitrary or spurious. Many of God's forthcoming
judgments are already penned in scripture, as well as setting forth the foundation of His Righteousness from whence He
speaks specific admonitions. The Valley of Decision is one such place where, once there, it is a feté a compli, as is The Great
White Throne Judgment. Has God provided the way and means for mankind to avoid such a dead-end finale? ... and "Jesus
answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" .[Jhn. 14:6] The work Christ
finished at Calvary and His Gospel constitute the way and means by which to enter the Kingdom of God and avoid the verdict
waiting in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
mankind and their disobedience, thus showing HIm not to be capricious, arbitrary or spurious. Many of God's forthcoming
judgments are already penned in scripture, as well as setting forth the foundation of His Righteousness from whence He
speaks specific admonitions. The Valley of Decision is one such place where, once there, it is a feté a compli, as is The Great
White Throne Judgment. Has God provided the way and means for mankind to avoid such a dead-end finale? ... and "Jesus
answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" .[Jhn. 14:6] The work Christ
finished at Calvary and His Gospel constitute the way and means by which to enter the Kingdom of God and avoid the verdict
waiting in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
The paragraph just above is not a Fire Insurance Policy against the Flames of Hell, rather it represents components of God's
design for mankind to be protected against and/or delivered from the nefarious snares laid by the Lord of this World (Satan).
God has provided the way, and it is His Way, and not one manufactured or contrived by mankind or religious institutions
steeped in secular-like religious wisdoms. Thusly, we are now witnessing the struggle between advancing aberrant religious
strongholds (Islam and several other anomalous faiths) coming against the stalwart bastions of God's Kingdom. America
seems to be the Nation God has chosen to initially oppose and forcefully confront such domains of darkness. God's Plan is
still in force for these end times, and will not be replaced by any other, from any other source.
design for mankind to be protected against and/or delivered from the nefarious snares laid by the Lord of this World (Satan).
God has provided the way, and it is His Way, and not one manufactured or contrived by mankind or religious institutions
steeped in secular-like religious wisdoms. Thusly, we are now witnessing the struggle between advancing aberrant religious
strongholds (Islam and several other anomalous faiths) coming against the stalwart bastions of God's Kingdom. America
seems to be the Nation God has chosen to initially oppose and forcefully confront such domains of darkness. God's Plan is
still in force for these end times, and will not be replaced by any other, from any other source.
Iraq and Afghanistan have in some respects, been a litmus test of America's resolve and willingness to directly face and
confront the religious evils running rampart across the face of the earth today. When Israel is frontally attacked, America will be
drawn into her most controversial military decision making quagmire, since Viet Nam - i.e., America will ask itself do we really
have a dog in that fight? Israel will become the epicenter (even more so than today) of all Middle Eastern military conflicts in the
near-days to come. Even though many would disagree, America is being prepared today to have her contentious internal
dialogue regarding the coming Israeli (didn't say Iraqi) military conflagration. Chart the waning support and shifting sands of
America's recent adventurism in the Middle East along with mounting intramural political consternation, and one might
speculate America may very well be so 'politically conflicted' and weary of warring that she decides to just sit this one out. If and
when America deserts Israel, in her day of greatest need, we may find ourselves without God's continuing favor. " And in that
day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though
all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." [Zec. 12:3] The Valley of Decision is just over the near-horizon. Let
us hold fast to The One in whom we have entrusted our Salvation, and He will be faithful to keep us from being appointed to the
Day of Wrath (Day of the Lord) [1Thes 5:9]. If you have not already made your decision for Christ, do so now so another
decision will not have to be made about you in a near-distant time. America is no where readily found in end-t?ime
(eschatological) prophecy, don't let your name not be found recorded in Christ's Book of Life. "... now is the day of salvation" [2
Cor. 6:2] ... tomorrow may be the day of our individual accountability before The Lord, make the right decision now and avoid the
valley.
confront the religious evils running rampart across the face of the earth today. When Israel is frontally attacked, America will be
drawn into her most controversial military decision making quagmire, since Viet Nam - i.e., America will ask itself do we really
have a dog in that fight? Israel will become the epicenter (even more so than today) of all Middle Eastern military conflicts in the
near-days to come. Even though many would disagree, America is being prepared today to have her contentious internal
dialogue regarding the coming Israeli (didn't say Iraqi) military conflagration. Chart the waning support and shifting sands of
America's recent adventurism in the Middle East along with mounting intramural political consternation, and one might
speculate America may very well be so 'politically conflicted' and weary of warring that she decides to just sit this one out. If and
when America deserts Israel, in her day of greatest need, we may find ourselves without God's continuing favor. " And in that
day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though
all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." [Zec. 12:3] The Valley of Decision is just over the near-horizon. Let
us hold fast to The One in whom we have entrusted our Salvation, and He will be faithful to keep us from being appointed to the
Day of Wrath (Day of the Lord) [1Thes 5:9]. If you have not already made your decision for Christ, do so now so another
decision will not have to be made about you in a near-distant time. America is no where readily found in end-t?ime
(eschatological) prophecy, don't let your name not be found recorded in Christ's Book of Life. "... now is the day of salvation" [2
Cor. 6:2] ... tomorrow may be the day of our individual accountability before The Lord, make the right decision now and avoid the
valley.
Jon D. Hannum, Ph.D.
Amen Ministries of Austin
amen_ministries@hotmail.com
aamen.org
Amen Ministries of Austin
amen_ministries@hotmail.com
aamen.org
| amen_ministries@hotmail.com --------- aamen.org --------- P.O. Box 27683 Austin, TX 78755 |
