Jonah blissfully asleep in his self imposed storm.
We usually think of things like COVID-19 and etc. as God’s judgements on this wicked world which has largely turned away from God, has broken all God’s laws and has no desire to hear God’s Word. This is often true but not always. There was an occasion when God violently threw a fierce, unprecedented storm into a situation because of a believer, and not only was he a believer, he was also (2 Kings 4:25) a prophet. Other people were terrified and in mortal danger and had already (Jonah 1:5) suffered loss, as they all cried out to their false gods to keep them from perishing. But, where was the believer in the One True God? - - FAST ASLEEP!
Millions of perishing people in our world to-day spiritually do not know (Jonah 4:11) their right hand from their left. How many Christians are Jonahs who would rather sleep through the storm than rescue the perishing? How many of God’s alarm clocks will be needed to awaken us because we fail (John 14:15) to obey and fail (Romans 12:12) to pray. Of course this is evidence that (2 Timothy 3:2) the Jonahs among us love SELF more that God, which could mean that SELF is their god - ? - ? -!
Do we know what time it is, how late it is? Take COVID-19 for instance; is it caused by a judgment of God or by the disobedience of present-day Jonahs? Of course, we don’t know but I do know that I do not want to be a Jonah who sleeps while the world burns.
Wake up (Ephesians 5:14) sleeping Jonahs. There may not be enough time for you to have a second chance to do what you should have been doing while you were sleeping. The night is far gone (Romans 13:12) the day is almost here. The end and the culmination of all things (1 Peter 4:7) has now come near. The Coming of the Lord is near (James 5:8-9) and the judge is already standing at the door.
If we think about these verses while listening to the NEWS, they will reinforce two things – our assurance of the Sovereignty of God’s certain program for the world and the urgency of why we are here for “such a time as this”. We are not where we are by accident but because God spanned a mighty gulf at Calvary.
When Jesus comes will He find (Luke 18:8) persistent faith among believers on earth or more snoring among Jonahs? We need to be like the men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32) who had understanding of the times to know what their nation should do. If we have understanding of our times, we will know what we should do. But where will we get such understanding? There is only one Source and that is the Word of God. If we are practically strangers to our Bibles, if we do not experience (John 15:7) the Word abiding in us and dwelling richly within us, we will be impoverished – lacking faith and spiritual growth. His word should dwell in us (Colossians 3:16) richly, extravagantly and overflowing. However, if we know God’s Word and His promises, then faith, understanding and knowledge will increase. Our faith is never blind faith.
Pastor B. McBride: “Faith is our response to something that God
has already promised”.
Our faith in the sure promises of God guarantees that we never have to fear in danger or doubt in darkness.
WORTH CONSIDERING: - If we truly love Jesus (1 Peter 1:8) Whom we cannot see and yet by faith (Hebrews 11:27) we see Him Who is invisible - - shouldn’t people around us be able to see Him Who is invisible IN US? We know that (Galatians 1:15-16) God is pleased to reveal His beloved Son in us. Behold and become. Constantly behold Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18) and progressively become more like Him. What is our soul but mind, will and emotions? Thank God that He has given us a heart to love Him, a mind to know Him and a will to obey Him. That sentence is not original but it holds the key to the reason for our existence.
Never separate Jesus as Saviour from Jesus as Lord. He is (Philippians 2:5-11) highly exalted and His Name is above every name. There is no higher authority anywhere in the universe. All power and authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18) has been given to Him. He is Judge, Master, Ruler and LORD of all. Therefore, (2 Corinthians 7:1) let us cleanse ourselves from all the things of the flesh and perfect holiness in the fear of our reigning Lord.