Joel 2:1-17  This chapter begins with the picture of an invasion so massive that the whole land trembles. There is darkness and gloom.. there is a consuming fire.. completely wiping out everything that it comes upon. The earth quakes.. the "heavens tremble".. The Lord "utters His voice before His army; surely His camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the Lord is indeed great and awesome, and who can endure it?" 

Whether this is a picture of ancient Israel.. or of modern day America.. the warning is the same..the day of the Lord is coming.. and with it there will be judgement that none can escape. 

"Yet even now, declares the Lord, Return to Me with all your heart.. " 

O hear this!  It is not too late to turn back to the Lord.  He is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil." 

We first hear these words in the book of Exodus.. it is on Mount Sinai.. when Moses came before the Lord.. when the tablets had to be replaced after they were broken... because of Israel's sin of worshipping the golden calf.   It was there that the Lord "descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord".. that the Lord "passed by" and "proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.. " ( Exodus 34:6-7)

This is the God who asks us to "rend" our hearts.. to fast and weep and mourn over our sin.. to "return to Him".. and find that He will forgive, restore, and bless.

We think that it is a hard thing.. to turn to the Lord and find His salvation.. but that is because we just don't know Him.   He wants us.. He wants our hearts.. He has compassion for us.. He is willing to forgive us.. again and again.. He won't stop loving us. He wants what is best for us!  What He offers is everything we will ever need or want. What He wants to save us from is everything that will destroy us. 

Let us come to Him!

Father in heaven, our gracious and loving Lord. May we see You more clearly.. know You more fully.. and love You more deeply.. for You are a great and wonderful God!  We give You praise!  We declare Your glory. We bow in worship before You. Amen!