Are You Overboard??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #188

 

Jonah ran away from God’s will for his life of ministry (as a prophet), yet God never lost track of Jonah—which of course, I believe Jonah already knew, but he ran anyway—and He found himself thrown overboard, landing in the belly of a whale (yes, I know it only says a big fish, well a whale fits that description) as God brought him back into His presence.  For just like us, he was never out of God’s presence, if he was out of God’s will; so we too can run from God’s will, but we will never be out of His view!

“Now the word of the LORD

came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh,

that great city,

and cry against it;

for their wickedness

is come up before me.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish

from the presence of the LORD,

and went down to Joppa;

and he found a ship going to Tarshish:

so he paid the fare thereof,

and went down into it,

 to go with them unto Tarshish

from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea,

and there was a mighty tempest in the sea,

so that the ship

was like to be broken.“  Jonah 1:1-4

Jonah’s decision to run from God’s will not only got him in trouble but it cost the mariners great harm and loss, all because the man of God, didn’t want to go to Nineveh; and we won’t go into all the reasons that Jonah may not have wanted to go and preach there, but I believe the bottom line is that he knew God’s prophecies of the judgment that these people would bring on his people, so why would he want to tell them about HIS God and call them to repent and come to HIM?  Simply put, he didn’t!  We often find ourselves on the run too; have you found yourself about to be thrown overboard because you are running from God? Well, my friends, you can run from God, but you can’t “hide” from Him.  There are some other folks who tried to hide from God, and it didn’t work for them either.

“And when the woman saw

that the tree was good for food,

and that it was pleasant to the eyes,

and a tree to be desired to make one wise,

she took of the fruit thereof,

and did eat,

and gave also unto her husband with her;

and he did eat.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened,

and they knew that they were naked;

and they sewed fig leaves together,

and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God

walking in the garden in the cool of the day:

and Adam and his wife hid themselves

from the presence of the LORD God

amongst the trees of the garden.

9 And the LORD God called unto Adam,

and said unto him,

Where art thou?

10 And he said,

I heard thy voice in the garden,

and I was afraid,

because I was naked;

and I hid myself.”  Genesis 3:6-10

It doesn’t matter whether you are running on land or sea, the same God who created you, also created the dry land and the seas. God is creator of all things, especially you and me; and His hand can reach where ever you think you can run. He’s good that way!  And yes, that’s a good thing that the God who “so loved the world that He gave…” Jesus to die in your place and mine for when we come to Him in repentance and faith/believing in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, He saves us to the uttermost.

“But what saith it?

The word is nigh thee,

even in thy mouth,

and in thy heart:

that is,

the word of faith,

which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe in thine heart

that God hath raised him from the dead,

thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart

man believeth unto righteousness;

and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith,

Whosoever believeth on him

shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference

between the Jew and the Greek:

for the same Lord over all

is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.”  Romans 10:8-13

So, my friends, I ask you humbly to consider where you are.  Are you hearing the call of God upon you for some special task, to live a more holy life, to exercise your spiritual gift?  Are you about to bolt?  Are you in that boat, causing harm and confusion to those around you. Are you about to be thrown overboard?  Are you in that “belly of the fish”?  Don’t run from the God who loves you so much, if you claim to be His, run “TO” Him not “from” Him.  He is always ready to receive the humble, repentant soul, even from the “belly of the fish”!  If you don’t know Jesus and you’re running from His Holy Spirit who is calling you to salvation, don’t run, fall at His feet before the cross that bought your salvation with the “blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin”!  Run to the God who loves you!  Today!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-11

Run to The God who loves you; don’t listen to those lies of the devil, who convinced Adam and Eve to disobey and then try to hide their sin—God has already made payment for your sin and mine through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross!  Run to that deliverer, not away from Him who can transform your heart, soul, mind, and life.  He’s waiting for you!  And remember that “in JESUS” that ‘roaring lion’ has been made ‘toothless and declawed’!  Run into His open arms today—HE never fails. Stand fast, don’t run!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

Remember Jesus loves you, and even as Peter stepped out to walk on the water, he didn’t start to sink until he took his eyes off of Jesus and let the storm weaken his faith in his Lord.  Be sure to keep “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” (see Hebrews 12:2)!  Remember, we win!!!  Don’t jump (or cause others to throw you) overboard—rather jump “on board” with Jesus!

Amen and Amen!!!