THE NEED TO HEED (Part 2)

Scripture:  The Lord sent this message to Jonah, the son of Amittai:  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and give them this announcement from the Lord:  ‘I am going to destroy you, for your wickedness rises before me; it smells to highest heaven.’” JONAH 1:1 (TLB)
   
 
The Ninevites, reputedly a very wicked and barbaric people, surprisingly HEEDED the warning of Jonah, the reluctant prophet who WANTED to see those wicked people get incinerated! Our sovereign and merciful God had a different plan for that Gentile city. They repented at Jonah’s announcement of imminent judgment!  Their repentance caused Jonah to sit down and sulk beneath a bush—one supernaturally provided by our Lord!  (Jonah 3:3-6) Imagine Jonah’s angry reaction at the mercy of God!  (May such a spirit of angry self-righteous smugness toward Christ-rejecting unbelievers in OUR own time not engulf us who partake of our Savior’s matchless grace)!  Scripture is replete with prophecies, from Genesis to Revelation, foretelling of His plans for dealing with nations, kingdoms, and individuals who PERSIST in unrepentant rebellion against His sovereign rule!  We have only to read even the New Testament in its entirety to gain an appreciation and renewed respect for the veracity and reliability of His Holy Word.  He WILL do what He SAYS He will DO! (Numbers 23:19)
   
It is written in Matthew 24:5-22 that there is coming a time of tribulation, such as this world has never known, when what Scripture calls the abomination of desolation foretold by the prophet Daniel in chapter 9, verse 27 of the Book bearing his name,  will stand in the holy place demanding to be worshiped as God, having removed his mask of feigned goodwill (toward Israel especially) and benign rulership. All true Christ followers will have been RAPTURED from this wicked world by this time when Antichrist comes on the global scene. (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54) HALLELUIAH!!!  As the Bible foretells, all the souls left BEHIND on this earth who refuse to bow down to the Antichrist are warned to flee in an attempt to simply survive! In light of these biblical truths, let us determine to act as though our God, the Great ‘I AM” of the Holy Scriptures is telling the truth—because He IS!  He has told us of these end time events BEFORE they unfold. “

PRAYER:  Dear ABBA, please revive in us a zeal to be steadfast doers of Your word, rather than hearers only.  Let us be found cheerfully serving You, sharing the gospel, as Your Spirit leads, and resting in Your wonderful sustaining Spirit’s power! Thank You, LORD;   AMEN!

(by Denise Diggs)