ON THE RUN
But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah 1:3
Jonah was called by God to preach to the great and wicked city of Nineveh. It was a clear call, a definite call… and Jonah did not want to do what God called him to do. So he hightailed it the other direction… on the run from God and His will for Jonah’s life.
LOTS OF JONAHS
Lots of Christians live life like Jonah: on the run from God. These folks know the truth… they know what God wants them to do… but they don’t want to do it. They jettison God’s agenda and plan for their own agenda and plan. They go their own way instead of His way because they think their way is better and will bring them happiness and satisfaction. Listen, anytime you find yourself on the run from God and His will for your life, you are running from satisfaction not to satisfaction.
As a pastor, I talk to people each week who have sad stories to share about the misery they have caused themselves by running from God and His clearly revealed will for their lives. Like Jonah, those who flee from the Lord are eventually sorry they did. They find themselves swallowed up by life (or, as in Jonah’s case, by a great fish). Every single runner ends up the same: broken and bleeding, wishing they could go back in time and undo their rebellion.
IT’S TIME TO STOP RUNNING
Are you on the run from that which you know God has called you to do? Does the revealed will of God seem scary… and impossible… and unpleasant… and a bad idea? That is exactly the way it looked to Jonah… but looks can often be deceiving. Remember, God’s ways are not our ways. Although you may erroneously think His plan is not good, it is ALWAYS “good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).
Whatever God has called you to do, do it! Don’t hesitate, procrastinate, or rationalize away your responsibility to give complete, total and swift obedience to the King of Kings. The Lord loves you and wants the best for you. You can trust Him.
If you are on the run right now, STOP! Get your heart right with the Lord and begin moving in the direction He wants for you. God will cleanse you and forgive you for running from Him. He is the God of second chances. If you don’t believe me… just ask Jonah!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
