Jonah 2:8-9 those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ’Salvation comes from the LORD.’"
When Jonah refused to go to Nineveh and warn them of God's impending doom if they did not turn to the Lord, it was not so much a characterless historical recording. It was, in fact, a representation of the Nation of Israel's refusal to be a witness to God's salvation to the world. They did not want to accept that being God's chosen people meant choosing to spread the good news of the coming of the Promised Messiah and not choosing to be the only people that could receive salvation. In their foolish pride and nationalistic nearsightedness, they missed the actual coming of the Savior of the world because He claimed to be just that, the Savior of the World. Beyond their misguided narrowmindedness, the Gentile world could receive redemption from God's chosen plan of salvation.
Fast
forward some 2800 Years, and there are still many today that refuse to be
messengers of Christ Jesus to carry that same message to the ends of the earth.
Today there are many reasons that this explicit command of Jesus is ignored,
apathy being the core reason. So many today want to sit in their comfortable
cushioned pews in their climate-controlled church, holding on to their fire
insurance policy. With a sorrow for all those on their way to Hell, however,
some Christians do not want to spread the good news of the Gospel (Acts 8:1).
Christ
Jesus gave this command to the remaining eleven Apostles at His ascension. It
was, however, meant for all the Christ followers and believers, not just a few
in attendance that afternoon at the Mount of Olives. People like Paul took this
as a directive for all God's children and looked at the distance he went to
spread the good news to the ends of the earth. People like Dwight Moody, Billy
Graham, Billy Sunday, and many more have taken the command to personally carry
the Gospel to the ends of the world. All these people had nothing more than we
have today; that is, the calling from Christ Jesus, the indwelling of the power
of the Holy Spirit, the tool of prayer, and the Holy Word of God. Some are
waiting for a sign that God meant for them to spread the Word's truth (Matthew
16:4).
When
Christ Jesus was on earth, He was as much man as He was God. He had a physical
body with feet to carry Him where he needed to go to spread His message. He had
hands to comfort the weak and needy. He had eyes to see the ones to which He
was ministering. He had a mouth to speak the truth of God's Word because He was
God's Word. He is right now in Heaven on the right side of the Father,
advocating for all that accept Him as their Savior.
We are His feet to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth, His hands to bring comfort, and His eyes to see those in need of the truth of His message. We are also His mouth to proclaim to the world that there is only one way to Heaven through Him. Jesus is not just an excellent way to get to Heaven. He is not the best way to get to Heaven; He is the only way to reach Heaven (John 14:6).
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