Repent – the kingdom of God (forgiveness-compassion) is very near
Have we ever longed for an opportunity to undo some of the mistakes we have made in our life? We have all made mistakes in guiding people, in our finances, our careers, our parenting, our marriages… which lead us to wish that we could have one more chance, an opportunity to begin again. Louisa Tarkington wrote it for us in a poem entitled "The Land of Begin Again" . "I wish that there were some wonderful place called the land of Begin Again, where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all our poor selfish grief…. Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door and never be put on again. I wish that there were some wonderful place called The Land Of Begin Again."
Well Jonah's experiences remind us that there is such a place, and we serve God who will use those who repent and turn to Him. Jonah too was given a second chance just like the Ninevites. First time he disobeyed and went into the wrong direction (toward Tharshish). When Jonah got back from his unsuccessful trip toward Tarshish, God gave him a second chance. Sometimes God gives us a lot more chances than that. God was not ready to write Joanah or the Ninevites off.
Let me tell you a true story. On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the annual Rose Bowl football game. In that game a man named Roy Riegels, unfortunately became confused and began running the wrong direction. One of his team-mates, Benny Lom, overtook and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team. When he attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safty which was the ultimate margin of victory. This was during the first half.
Everyone was wondering what Coach Nibbs Price would do with Roy Riegels in the second half. During the half-time break Riegels sat alone in a corner, wrapped a blanket around his shoulders, put his hands in his face and cried like a baby. Three minutes before the start of the second half Coach Price looked at the team and said, "Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second."
Riegels never moved. The coach called him and again he never moved. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second." Reigels said, "Coach, I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you. I've ruined the University of California. I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life." Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegels' shoulder and said, "Roy, get up and go on back, the game is only half over."
Roy Reigels went back. Those Tech men had never ever seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.
And isn't that what God does for you and me? - God always gives us second chances.
And Jonah isn't the only person in the Bible who "failed" God at some point. Let's take a look at some of those others that failed and found that God didn't give up on them.
Abraham: God promised him that his wife, Sarah, would give him a son. But what does Abraham do? He decides to help God out and has a child by his wife's servant. He "failed" to believe God but God didn't give up on him. God made Abraham the "father of many nations".
Peter: Poor old Peter. Peter, the one who swore that he would never deny Jesus, then denies Him not once, not twice, but three times, publicly! Peter "failed" Jesus. Yet Peter goes on to become one of the greatest leaders of the early church.
Paul, whose conversion we celebrate this Sunday, spent his early life persecuting Christians. Then, through what we might call an "eye-opening" experience, Saul, the one who "failed", became Paul, the greatest missionary in history.
These people I've just mentioned, along with many others, have "failed" God at some point in their lives. But God DID NOT give up on them. God didn't give up on them and He won't give up on you or me. What a comfort to realize that the best of God's servants have made foolish mistakes, but were used again.
When the word of the Lord came to Jonah "the second time" it came with the same commission he had received the first time. It was God plan for Jonah to go to Nineveh (1:2) it is still God's plan for Jonah to go to Ninevah. God's plan for Jonah had not changed, but Jonah did. The first time the word of the Lord came to Jonah telling him to go to Nineveh, Jonah ran away. This time, having learned his lesson the hard way on the consequences of disobedience; this time he obeyed. We serve an awesome God! He has plans for each of us and we can't fail enough to ever change those plans.
The truth is that the Lord has some things He wants you and me to do. But do you know that many of the things God intended for you and me to do never get accomplished? Do you know why? Because oftentimes the people God has set apart to accomplish His will have refused to surrender to Him. Time and again we blow it. We fail. We mess things up. We feel like such a failure. But Jesus is always there. He places a hand on our shoulder and says, "Get up. Don't quit. I am with you. You are forgiven. I love you and I will never leave you or forsake you - no matter what!" Even if a mother forgets her child in her womb, I will never forget.
God loves more a sinner mixed with repentance than a saintly person seasoned with pride.
Prayer: "You and You alone are God. My fight with you is fruitless. My stubbornness has become an idol I've clung to, separating me from your grace. You alone have the power to save even me, O Lord. Here I sit with no power to redeem myself. Only You can do it. I was foolish to withhold my obedience from You; instead I should be offering You a song of thanksgiving for the privilege of being able to serve You." May the compassion and forgiveness of our God overwhelm us and give us the strength to respond to God's Loving Call. Amen.
