Many trials, many tribulations, many traumas, many transactions, and even much traversing can lead the human spirit into the valley of decision (what the term “reasoning” suggests) whereby a collision with desolation (what the term “psychological depression” refers to) is all but certain. It must be understood that although the valley of decision can be calculating; it is not necessarily toxic. Toxicity in the valley of decision occurs when the human spirit is in a state of rebellion against its purifying processes.The calculating dimension within the valley of decision is seen in its masterful ability to bring the human spirit into a place of brokenness whereby its fallen nature must be acknowledged and yet, its purifying dimension is laconically demonstrated through its uncanny ability to forensically reveal all character flaws within the human spirit. The Prophet Malachi weighs in: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.- But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:- And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness”. The Prophet Zechariah concurs: “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God”. It is the “Life Force” amalgamation (what the term “vitality” refers to) of the calculating and purifying dimensions that cause the human spirit to seek the symbols of “redemption” and “holiness” because the valley of decision (King David’s “valley of the shadow of death”) is not designed by the Eternal Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) to destroy the human spirit; its designation is to destroy everything that stands against communion of the human spirit with the Eternal Godhead. It is the break down of this holy communion with the Divine Nature that leads the human spirit into the valley of decision and it is the restoration of this holy communion that will lead the human spirit through this valley and into peace with the Divine Nature (this is the essence of the term “salvation”). I have termed the break down and restoration of the holy communion that establishes eternal peace with the Divine Nature as a “Confrontation Of Grace”. Divine Grace has as its profound reality an “In Spite Of” power that drives beyond the valley of decision and is greater than any known desolation as it relates to the human spirit. Therefore, the human spirit cannot find itself so bound in any ambit of desolation that the “In Spite Of” power of Divine Grace cannot lift up a standard and overcome its prehensible force. This is the true meaning of the term “favor” as it relates to Divine Grace. The favor to overcome any ambit of desolation “In Spite Of” human behavior, human proclivities, human fallibility, human intellect, human emotionalism, etc. It is my honest criticism (as one that participates) that in the modern era of homiletics, hermeneutics, and apologetics the “In Spite Of” power of Divine Grace isn’t treated nearly enough with the dynamic velocity it deserves.This is most unfortunate because there is no greater singular teaching that has led so many spiritual captives to the “freedom” and “redemption” provided by the Eternal Godhead. The Apostle Paul declares: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:- Not of works, lest any man should boast”. A Confrontation of Grace is of absolute concern because the predilection of the human spirit is to gauge its life force based upon external stimuli, even other human spirits by way of the social existential mechanism of life. A Confrontation of Grace is of absolute concern because it establishes the standard that the human spirit is to be tested by the reality of the “Divine Word” alone, as it is the Eternal Godhead alone through the “Divine Word” that established both the essential and existential dimensions of life in the Genesis of creative reality. In the final analysis, a Confrontation of Grace is of absolute concern because it restores the human spirit (through the valley of decision) as a new creation in Christ Jesus (this is the true meaning of the phrase “spiritual transformation”) while destroying the condemnation of personal identity issued through the deathly amalgamation of humanism and satanism. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. (Another Oil Point from Theology Nation)
– Bishop Dr. G.A. Cox