Are We Running From God’s Purpose?

Jonah 1:1-3                                                                                                                                                                        

The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.

When we come to God and ask for his forgiveness of past sin we are so happy we would do anything God asks of us because we have personally experienced his mercy and love, but what happens after the “Honeymoon” is over and we aren’t feeling so bad about ourselves? Too often believers start trying to either “Negotiate” new conditions of their redemption or they just try to fill their lives up with stuff and business so they can’t hear the Holy Spirit speak to them. It is strange that we expect God to be good to His word and embrace us as His children, even when we turn back to our rebellious ways. We often challenge God to honor His word but we don’t feel the necessity or obligation to do likewise.

One day Jesus was trying to cut through all the loopholes in the Jewish theology that they thought would kept them safe from obligations to God and made a profound statement about the teaching of false prophets. He told them that there is a simple test for everyone who claims they speak for or from God.

Matthew 7:18-20                                                                                                                                                                           

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Jesus uses three illustrations to cut to the case about claiming to be on God’s good side and yet not living for him. People tend to say one thing and do another. The common excuse is “It’s not their fault”! We are all sinners that are saved by grace. Some even use scriptures like Romans 7:19 as a “Get Out of Jail” card by saying I agree with Paul – I don’t do what I want to.

In the same teaching, much later, Jesus narrows his relationships even further in the following version.

Matthew 7:21-22

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

In context Jesus is saying, even to his disciples, calling yourself a follower and disciple doesn’t cut it if you stop doing what I ask of you.

Now, back to the story of Jonah.  He was a prophet of God and when God told him to proclaim a message to Nineveh he didn’t outright refuse but he just walked in the opposite direction. Now, applying the words of Jesus, I would assume that if Jonah continued in this direction of refusing to follow God’s purpose for his life he would become a tree without fruit and a prophet who no longer truly spoke for God. One might ask how long of time would it be before God rejected him? When you look at the whole of scripture one principle stands out very clearly. God told Moses to tell the children of Israel who he was and what are the key elements of his nature.

Exodus 34:6-7                                                                                                                                                                

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, [7] maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

Jonah’s main reason for running from God’s purpose for his life of delivering a message to the Ninevites was on this very bedrock position of God’s character and nature. If these hardcore sinners would repent then God would change his mind about destroying them.  Our sin and rebellion will eventually override God’s compassion and mercy if not dealt with. God motivates us to repent of our wrong doing but it’s ultimately up to us and what we choose to do. If our sins accumulate to such an extent that God has to respond, He will.

I find it so interesting that we rely on God’s compassion, but would rather not think about him being a just God when it comes to our own personal sin. Other people’s sin yes, but not ours.

Jonah 4:1-4                                                                                                                                                                      

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. [2] So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. [3] Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”[4] The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Jonah must have been carrying a lot of personal hurt and pain from the Assyrian nation. They were known for their cruelty and ruthless nature. I think many times we struggle like Jonah to share God’s loving kindness in Christ with people who have wounded us. Even though we are called followers of Christ we all too often let our emotions get in the way of God’s purposes.

Here is the good part about this story. Not only was God willing to forgive the Assyrians of their previous sins, though they were many, so He is willing to forgive ours. For a prophet like Jonah to refuse to obey God’s call could have brought swift judgment yet God provided some “Incentives” to bring him back to his senses.

Maybe you find yourself running from the purpose of God and didn’t even realize you were doing it. All it takes to receive the mercy of God is a simple acknowledgment and confession with a willingness to change your thinking and your ways.

1 John 1:9-10                                                                                                                                                                       

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Questions:

1)  What do you live for – Yourself or God?  The answer tells you what to do.

2) When was the last time you sought God about his calling? Take the time to get alone with him.

After 45 years as a Christian, I am still seeking His will for my life.

Pastor Dale