Jonah 3:4-5, 10 – Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. . . . When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
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Here in chapter 3, Jonah goes to Nineveh and obeys the command of God. He cries out in the midst of the city that Nineveh only has 40 more days until the Lord will destroy it. The people of the city hear Jonah’s word, believe God, and repent. God then relents of the destruction.
We need not shrink back from declaring the word of the Lord to people. Unlike Jonah, we will not receive that word as direct, person-to-person, revelation from God. Instead, we receive God’s word in its written form, holy scripture. The word of God contains a similar call to the lost and dying world that, in a very short time, they will stand under the wrath of God if they do not repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. If, like the people of Nineveh, they hear our words and believe God, they will be saved.
Some people do not want to say such things to the world, because they do not want to sound overly negative. But let me tell you that the call to repentance is extremely good news. The call to repentance and the threat of destruction is a very hopeful call. When God plans to destroy something or someone without any remedy or hope for them, he no longer calls them to repentance. God will not call you to do something that will not help. If the Lord calls you to repent, there is hope that, if you repent, you can be saved and avoid his wrath.
So, the next time you have the chance, be bold to declare to someone the truth of the word of God. Call them to repentance. And let them know that this call to repent is a great and merciful blessing from God containing the hope of forgiveness. And when you hear the call from God to repent of your own sin, receive it as his mercy; because he could have simply judged you, but he chose to call you to turn from your sin and receive his grace.
Dear Lord, I thank you for the call to repentance. I recognize that along with your call to repent of sin and threat of wrath also comes your promise of grace for the one who hears and obeys your word. I pray that you will always continue to speak your call for me to change in your word in order that I would repent and turn to you in every area of life. I pray that you will give me the opportunity to speak your word, your call to repentance, to others, and to show them how great a mercy it is that they can hear that warning. I pray that you will use me as one who speaks your word to others who will hear it and turn to you.
Pastor Travis Peterson 