The Valley of Decision

As I read the Bible before bed last night, I came across Joel 3:14:  "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."  How true it is, I mused to myself, that the valley is the place of decision.  The place of decision is not the mountain peak or the plain:  it is in the valley.  When we are at a low point every man must decide what he will do:  dig a grave and lie down in it, or decide to follow Jesus to a higher plane.  He stands at the right hand of the Father and bids us join Him.  Every man is in the valley of decision, and the day of the LORD is near.

When everything is going smoothly in our lives we are happy to just keep plugging away.  But when disaster strikes, the fiery trial brings us low, or the depression begins to take hold, we are in that all-too-familiar valley of decision:  should we remain in the valley or climb out of it in God's strength?  There is only one way to successfully navigate out of that valley.  We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the unalterable truth of God's Word, and strength through Jesus Christ to emerge victorious.  Sometimes we are led by the Good Shepherd through the valley of death - but it was never intended that we build a house there to dwell in.  We must continue on, faithfully following.  Jesus has offered us eternal life through repentance and faith in Him and is obtainable only by grace.

Mountain-top experiences are wonderful things in the life of a Christian.  When God reveals Himself in love, power, and grace, our eyes are opened to the richness He has freely granted us.  We stand on that mountain, drinking in the beauty.  But being presently shackled to this earth and housed in these crude bodies, our minds often forget the heavenly vision.  Our spiritual sense becomes dull and our resolve fades.  We forget.  We forget we have already decided to follow Jesus and it's a decision we need to make moment by moment.  In the valley of decision we must resolve to trust in the LORD with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding.  When we acknowledge God in all our ways He shall direct our paths.

The valley is a good place.  It provides another opportunity for us to choose Christ.  Are you in the valley of decision today?  What is your decision?  No decision is a "no" decision.