And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
Joel 2:32
I’m sure that you must have seen those posters that shops post into their windows at this tine of year; 50% OFF EVERYTHING!!* they proclaim in foot-high letters. HALF PRICE* SALE!! EVERYTHING MUST GO!! they shout on bright red posters. Should you inspect the signs more closely, perhaps with the aid of a magnifying glass, you’ll usually find, often running upside down along the edge of a poster, an asterisk and words along the lines of “Some stock half price but you’ll have to scour the store from top to bottom to find it.” We all know that these posters are just a cynical ploy to get us into the store, but they must work otherwise shops wouldn’t do it! I personally just find them intensely irritating and dishonest.
Interestingly, there is no asterisk next to today’s verse. EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED!! shouts Joel. Living in the capitalist society of today I keep expecting to find some exemptions hidden somewhere within this verse but I can’t find any. No small print along the lines of “applies to first one hundred believers,” or “management reserve the right to change the offer at any time without prior notice.” There’s not even a “no purchase necessary-simply send us all your contact details so that we can bombard you with spam emails, texts, phone calls and letters until the end of time and we’ll enter you into a free prize draw” disclaimer. Surely some mistake?
But no, there is no mistaking the promise in today’s verse. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. If we turn to God, repent of all our sins, and strive to live our lives day by day for him, we will be saved. If we only call on the name of the Lord we will be safe from death and will gain eternal life in God’s new creation.
What a fantastic promise this is! Give thanks today that we have an honest and trustworthy God who saves all who turn to him!