Going to Nineveh

I think most all of us have heard the story of Jonah and the big fish. Well, if you have spent any time as a child in Sunday school or VBS you have. The point of the story isn’t that Jonah was swallowed by the fish, but that he refused to live out God’s plan for his life. God’s plan was simply to go where you are told to go. Jonah, like most of us fought God’s plan. He was afraid. Afraid of the people. Afraid he wasn’t good enough. Afraid for his life even!

It is easy for us to read this story and say, “if he would of just done what he was asked to do, he wouldn’t of ended up in the fish’s belly.” We know now that God’s hand was on him and therefore meant he was protected. But, is that really what we do as believers. Do we jump at every chance God gives us to share His word? If we look at our lives honestly, we would have to most often say no. I do not want to admit it, but if I am truly going to be open and honest, “no” has to be my answer.

God may not be calling us all to travel to a foreign land, but He is calling us all to share God’s love with others right where we are. We often let Satan creep into our thoughts and self doubt starts showing its ugly head. We tell ourselves we are not good enough, people are going to think we are crazy, or we are afraid. Our circle becomes our Nineveh. The truth is, we are not good enough, people will think you are crazy and the world can be a scary place. That is exactly what the Holy Spirit is for. Jesus made us good enough when He gave that ultimate sacrifice to purify our hearts. He left us with the gift of eternal life if we just believe in Him. That’s not the end of the story. All believers have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to give us the strength, wisdom and knowledge to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

Matthew 28:18-20 gives us what we call the great commission. Jesus’ last commandment before His ascension to heaven.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen”

He is with us forever! Until the end of the age! He sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit to hold our hands and guide us through this life. I cannot think of a better gift that that. All we have to do is listen and obey. We have to be willing to take up our cross and follow Him. We must let the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts instead of Satan. Be still and listen to the voice of God. We can no longer let opportunities pass us by to lead someone to Christ. No one knows the day or the hour of the return of Jesus. (Matthew 24:36) I have wrestled with this website for years! I have allowed the evil one talk myself out of this for far too long. I have finally chosen to obey what God has been telling me. I just pray that God forgive me for missing opportunities in the past. I pray God bless this site, my scary place, or my Nineveh and spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus to all the ends of the earth.

I want to encourage and challenge anyone reading this to take the time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone that needs Jesus. Ask Him help you to recognize those divine appointments and to not let one opportunity pass you be. Life is too short to take chances with eternity. Our lives are like a vapor, we are here for a short time then gone. (James 4:14)

Prayer:

Father thank you for Your Son and your Holy Spirit. Forgive us for our disobedience. Help us all to listen to your voice and to not let a single opportunity go that could save someone from an eternity in Hell. We know Lord that you have given us a plan for leading others to salvation. We ask that you open our eyes to see what you have before us. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit for boldness to take a stand, wisdom to know the best approach and for the knowledge to know what to say. In Jesus name. Amen