Joel 1: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%201&version=NIV1984.
Joel 2: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%202&version=NIV1984.
An Invasion of Locusts
The children of God and their land had been attacked by an invasion of locusts, which ate everything in sight. A locust is “a migratory grasshopper that often swarms and devours crops and vegetation” (Encarta). I researched “locust” and discovered some interesting features about the locust. “The locusts are the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers.” The locust is a grasshopper that changes “morphologically and behaviorally on crowding.” Morphing: “to change smoothly from one image to another by small gradual steps; or to undergo a gradual transformation” (Wikipedia). God described them, in Joel 1, as a powerful nation without number that had the teeth of a lion. This nation of locusts had laid waste his vines and ruined his fig trees. Grain offerings and drink offerings were cut off from the house of the Lord. The fields were ruined. The ground was dried up, and the oil failed. The harvest of the field was destroyed, and the joy of mankind was withered away.
As I considered prayerfully this image of the destruction of these locusts, in my mind, along with this description and definition of locusts, the Lord brought to mind another “nation” of locusts which have destroyed his harvest and have ruined his fields. In 1 Corinthians 3 we learn that we (human beings; human hearts; true believers in Jesus Christ) are God’s field, God’s building. God assigns some of his servants to plant the seed in this “field,” and others water the seed, but it is God who makes things grow. This is speaking of the spiritual seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ planted in human hearts (the field). There are those who are assigned the mission to give out the gospel (plant the seed). Others are assigned the responsibility of teaching spiritual growth (the watering), yet it is God and his Holy Spirit who transforms human hearts. Only the Spirit of God truly leads anyone to salvation. We are merely his servants; his instruments in his hands used to plant the seed and to water it (give it spiritual nourishment). It is the Holy Spirit who makes it work.
A harvest is a crop, yield, produce, return, and fruitage of the work of planting the seed and watering it. It can also be “the consequences of previous actions or behavior” (Encarta). The harvest, as well, is a spiritual harvest: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Co. 9:10). “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9). “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together” (Jn. 4:35-36). The harvest, spiritually speaking, is the result or the reward of planting the spiritual seed and watering it. The result should first of all be the salvation of souls, and secondly it should be the strengthening in faith and the maturity of the life of the follower of Jesus Christ.
So, if we go back to the destruction of the locusts in light of us being the field, the gospel the seed, spiritual maturity instruction, love, nurturing and discipleship the watering, then the locusts must be something other than physical bugs that eat plants.
The Swarming Phase
The locusts destroy and bring to ruin the fields (human hearts) and the spiritual harvest in people’s lives (resulting from the sharing of the gospel and the discipling of believers). As a result, thank offerings are cut off from the house of the Lord (the body of Christ; the people of God; the church). These sacrifices include: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:4-6). “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Ro. 12:1-2). The “locusts” are able to cause these sacrifices to be cut off from God’s people, yet how?
The locusts are grasshoppers in the swarming phase. Swarming and flocking are terms used to describe the behavior of insects and birds who group together en masse, i.e. in a body or as a whole in the same direction and toward some collective goal or purpose. The locust is a grasshopper who slowly and gradually morphs (transforms) into the locust. So, here we are thinking on a spiritual plane about something or someone who is destroying and ruining God’s people, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the harvest of righteousness in people’s lives. This something or someone appeared as one thing but slowly and gradually over time morphed (transformed) into something else. It or he or they did this so gradually and quietly that it was hardly noticeable to the other “grasshoppers,” and perhaps even with the purpose of escaping notice (secretive; cunning). Yet, this was not done alone. This was a collective effort of a group of people or systems which or who share common goals and objectives. And, their goal is to destroy God’s holy church.
So, who or what is causing this destruction to the church? Who or what has such power as to be able to bring about such devastation to the gospel, to the spiritual harvest, to discipleship, and to the church as a whole? I believe with all my heart that there has been a concerted effort to tear down the gospel of Jesus Christ, to convince Christian leaders to follow after men and their philosophies, even over and above Christ and his word, and to convince the church that the only way to grow their churches is through humanistic approaches to church growth, rather than evangelistic approaches via sharing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe this is a global effort, and that it has people from both the political and religious sectors as the motivators and leaders of this “swarming” movement (migration) away from the truth of God’s word, and toward a blending of Christianity with other religions, with worldly philosophies, and toward absolute obliteration of the church as God intended it to be, and the gospel of Christ as is taught in scripture.
This “swarming” movement has been slow, gradual and very calculated to the point to where most church goers have hardly noticed the transition (the morphing). They have accepted, adopted and embraced each little change along the way, because every step in this morphing process has been made to look good and righteous, and very convincing to a worldly church so indoctrinated in the ways of the world every day via the internet, TV, movies, music, games, etc. This indoctrination towards this morphing has been planned and carried out over a very long period of time. If you read history, you will find this kind of calculated and gradual change in the plans of world leaders throughout history, including that of Hitler’s plan for world domination at his time. Subliminal messages are weaved into TV programs, advertising, magazine covers, and “Bible” studies written by men, etc. The Bible speaks of a time of a great deception. I believe we are seeing that great deception right now taking form and deceiving the minds of naïve and immature Christians.
Such Devastation!
The way these “locusts” have been able to cause such devastation is that they are one of us, but not really. They are like wolves in sheep’s clothing. In other words, we are being destroyed from within. Other “grasshoppers” like us have morphed into these locusts and they are drawing more and more “grasshoppers” to “morph” with them and to become like them – like the world, rather than like Christ. They have convinced the church that repentance (turning from sin) and obedience (following) Christ are not necessary for salvation and that God is pleased with them no matter what they do. Yet, if we seriously read the New Testament, it is blatantly obvious to any serious student of scripture that salvation requires repentance and obedience to Christ for the conversion to Christ to be genuine. They have convinced the church that we must use worldly means to draw the world to the church, but we are supposed to share the gospel, which is an offense to those who are perishing. They have convinced the church to soft pedal the gospel, to make church fun and entertaining, to use manipulative marketing techniques to draw in people, and to focus on the show, i.e. the stage production each Sunday morning, and to put most of their money into the big show. Teachings of men have replaced Bible studies. Facilitators of these men-studies have replaced teachers of the word. And, the church is destroyed and ruined.
So, God is calling out to his church and to the shepherds of God’s people and is telling these “drunkards” to wake up and to weep and wail over the condition of God’s holy church, the utter ruin of the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and the destruction and ruin of the fields (human lives; the harvest of righteousness). He is also calling out to the shepherds of God’s flock to repent (turn from their sins) and to mourn over the destruction of the church and the gospel and the spiritual harvest in people’s lives. If people are convinced that they do not have to turn from theirs sins, and they don’t have to obey Christ and God is pleased with them no matter what they do, then they will continue in their sins of idolatry, adultery, witchcraft, lying, stealing, murdering, etc., because there is no motivation to change.
They believe they have their ticket into heaven and they can still live how they want. Oh, how wrong! What kind of God would just turn and look the other way while we wallow in our sins after he sent his only Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we could go free? He is not looking the other way. I guarantee it. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. He is full of compassion and mercy. And, he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Yet, a time is coming when he will judge his church for her idolatry and her spiritual adultery, which is why he is sending out these messages day after day calling out to his church to wake up, to repent, and to return to him before the day in which he begins to pour out his judgments on the earth. Those whom the Lord loves he rebukes and disciplines, so be earnest, and repent!
“Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
16 Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’” … (Joel 2:12-17)
Now Abiding / An Original Work / January 31, 2012
Walking with Him; have Him near me,
Brings me comfort, joy and healing.
Now abiding in His presence;
His words speaking, oh, how gently:
Speak conviction, inspiration,
And instruction in right living.
Hope and comfort Jesus brings you,
When you’re walking with Him daily.
Be His servant; share the gospel;
Be His witness of salvation.
Love your brothers and your sisters.
Share with them that Jesus loves them.
Talking daily with my Savior;
List’ning to Him while He teaches,
Draws me closer; get to know Him,
So that I can now obey Him.
Follow Him where’er He leads me.
Worship only Jesus, Savior.
http://youtu.be/27fKCFSK-oc
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