by Terri Gillespie
“Yet even now”—it is a declaration of Adonai—”turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting.” Joel 2:12 TLV
Have you ever dressed or put on your makeup in the dark or without a mirror? We think because we know ourselves so well, we might need a bit of adjusting in the light of day, but all in all we’ll be fine. But take it from me, after over sixty years of knowing my body, without that magnifying mirror and bright lights, I would be a mess.
That’s a lot like sin.
In today’s verse, God tells us to turn to Him with all our heart.
The term “Day of the LORD” is sprinkled freely throughout Joel. This phrase can mean two things. One is the day of judgment.
Blow the shofar in Zion! Sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all living in the land tremble—for the day of Adonai is coming—surely it is near! Joel 2:1 TLV (emphasis mine)
The other type of “Day of the LORD” is the day of repentance and redemption and GOD’s restoration.
I shall restore to you the years that the locust, the swarming locust, the canker-worm and the caterpillar have eaten— My great army that I sent among you. You will surely eat and be satisfied and praise the Name of Adonai your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you. Joel 2:25-2 TLV
Judgment, repentance, redemption, and restoration.
Because of His love, our Heavenly Father longed for our redemption before He spoke the world into existence. He gave His only Son up as a sacrifice, not so we could do what we wanted as His redeemed children, but so that we would heed the declaration of Adonai and turn to Him. It’s a clarion to His people.
So, what in the world does getting dressed and putting on makeup in the dark or without a mirror have to do with the Day of the LORD? It’s this: when we turn away from the LORD, even for a second, we’re in the dark trying to live a life while veiled. Everything we think we’re doing accurately is, in reality, a mess.
But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the LORD is the Spirit and where the Ruach Adonai [Spirit of the LORD] is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled faces beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 TLV
Once we looked in the mirror in the light, we realize just how off we are. Even when we think we’re unredeemable, especially at that moment of revelation, we can turn to Him in repentance and have the veil lifted. With His forgiveness, we can stand before Him blameless.
“ … so that in the Day of Messiah you may be sincere and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:10b-11 TLV
If you’ve stepped away from the LORD, simply turn back. Our Father is right there like the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15). Our Father will run to us. He will run to us with joy.
This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).
About the author: Award-winning author and speaker, Terri Gillespie writes stories of faith and redemption to nurture souls. Her novels, devotionals, messages, and blogs have drawn readers to hunger for a deeper relationship with their Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus. Her newest novel, Sweet Rivalry, releases later this year. http://www.authorterrigillespie.com
The third and final book in the Hair Mavens series, Really Bad Hair Day, is a whirlwind of changes for the mavens—marriage, love, danger, loss, and redemption. The Hair Mavens: modern-day Ruth and Naomi stories set in a hair salon.
Join the conversation: Have you ever been surprised by walking into the light?
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