Sermon # 27 - Heed God's Warnings Series

We read in Jonah 3:3-4, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (ERV)

The message that Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh was that in just forty days the city of Nineveh would be destroyed by God.

Often the words that proceed from God’s presence, are words of warning. Nowadays, people are apprehensive or hesitant to speak these words of caution, because they do not want to cause any sort of an upheaval. If we were to ponder about it, the lack of caution will certainly lead us into all kinds of dangers. For example, we live in a hill station called Ooty, in South India, and there is one section of the hills that is extremely steep. Generally, when one is travelling down that hill, there are numerous sign boards with instructions that drivers need to adhere to. The ones who can travel safely through that stretch, are those who will give heed to these signboards, and drive accordingly. However, the ones who do not pay attention to these are likely to land up in trouble.

These days the sound of these warning are slowly fading away, as people do not want to be those voices, who will give admonition to those who are going astray. Whenever, humanity is going down the wrong road, oftentimes God will intervene to alert us in various ways, so we can get back on track. This is only because God desires that none should perish, and that all should receive the good things that God has in store for us not only for this life, but for eternal life that is ahead of them.

God’s patience is for our repentance

We read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.” (GW)

Let me explain this verse to you in detail. The Lord is eager that every human being should take stock of their lives, and be wary about the destination that they are heading towards. In days gone by, society as a whole frowned upon certain behaviors, but sadly, today we are living in days where caution is thrown out the window, and people don’t seem to bother about these values anymore. It is important that we should believe, and obey those things that the word of God approves, for only then will our life be meaningful and blessed. God’s will for man is that no one should be destroyed, but that everyone should change their ways, to think, act and live in accordance to God’s will and plan.

God commands that we repent

In Acts 17:30, we read, "God overlooked the times when people didn't know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.” (GW)

In the previous verse we understood that it was God’s desire that man should repent of his sinful ways. This is so because God knows that where there is repentance, there is most certainly change of ways to become what God ordained us to be. However, in the above mentioned verse, God commands that everyone should turn to Him, and change the way they think and act. All of us know that a command is different from a request. These are days when if people are confronted about their faults, the majority will not accept, but will resist such an admonition.

God’s word is clear that when someone is overtaken in a fault, it is the duty of fellow believers to gently rebuke, so they can change their ways. It is sad that many parents too are hesitant to discipline their children in any way. They are apprehensive that their children would take some extreme steps, if they are reprimanded for bad behavior. It is important to bring up our children in the ways of the Lord, and to discipline them, whenever it is necessary. Though this discipline may seem painful at that time, it will surely yield good fruit in their lives later on. Every one of us as believers have a responsibility to help our fellow-believers, and to counsel them whenever they are going astray.

There are various ways in which people take the admonition that is given to them. Some will accept it without hesitation, but will continue to do the same things they did earlier. This is not repentance. Some people will struggle to try and overcome their weakness, which is a good thing. Repentance is a vital part of our spiritual growth, and to repent means to let go of all those things that God is displeased with. True repentance will certainly be followed by changes in the way one thinks and behaves.