"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3:14
A dear friend of mine, whose husband recently participated in RAGBRAI 2016 (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), relayed that a bicyclist had been killed after being struck from behind by a motorist during the week long event that hosted up to 10,000 riders last month. The Iowa Highway Patrol reports that nine cyclists have already been killed in Iowa in 2016 — double the number from 2015 and the highest total since 2010. Taking the issue seriously, KCCI news reported that, "RAGBRAI fatality prompts call for new bike laws."
While bringing awareness to and halting distracted driving is a serious issue that needs to be addressed and corrected, there is a much more serious issue that needs to be confronted. In Joel 3:14, the prophet described multitudes waiting "in the valley of decision." or the valley of judgement-where billions of people, those dead, living and those yet-to-be born, will face judgement. This is a serious issue for those that don't know Jesus Christ! Look around you. Do your family and friends know? Do the people you work with, ride with or run with know? It's only when we understand the severity and finality of God's final judgement that we will take seriously the need to share God's offer of hope to the "multitudes".
So today, will you tell someone before it's too late? Because as the famed playwright, Alan Bennett wrote and the unexpected death of the rider reminds us, "Sometimes there is no next time, no time outs, no second chances, sometimes it’s NOW or NEVER."
Heavenly Father, thank you so very much for the gift of forgiveness and hope. May we share that offer of hope to all those we know and don't know. Help us to be bold as we look at the multitudes of people we will come into contact with in our lifetime knowing that they might not know You and may not get a second chance to follow you before their time is done and they stand in the valley of decision. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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