Going To Nineveh.

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah 1:2 KJV

The Christian clarion call is to preach the word of Christ. It is our mission, our one purpose in life. When I look at other Christians, I marvel at how well they do this. They have the right answer for every question regardless of how stupid the question, because let’s face it, some questions really are stupid. Whoever said there was no such thing as a stupid question was just being nice. I ask stupid questions all the time. Anyway, I digress. Some evangelists seem to have all the words, the right lives, the perfect families, they are picture perfect. They love to go out and preach the word, they love everybody. They have no issues.

Speaking for myself, I don’t want to accept the mission. Give me the whale’s belly any day. I really don’t care if people get saved or not. Is it wrong that I want people to burn for the hateful, despicable, degenerate things they say and do? I don’t think so. I think at the heart of every Christian is the desire for justice and true vengeance on those who do evil.

Like Jonah, I don’t want to go to Nineveh. Nineveh was a country renowned for living degeneracy. They knew nothing of God and nothing of His ways. They wanted to live their way, feed their flesh and serve the gods of this world. They said mean things, were filthy and messed up in every sense. They had baggage that weighed a tonne. No one wants to carry that heavy load. Nineveh was uncomfortable, it tested Jonah and pushed him to the brink. Why would anyone want to hang out with Ninevites or want them saved. Let them all burn, I say!

Unfortunately and I guess to some extent, fortunately, we all must go. Not that God needs us. If we didn’t speak of His glory and goodness, the rocks would cry out. It’s for our benefit that we go. It’s hard to forget where you came from when it’s in your face every day. If we never see the lost, broken and sinful we would likely become a self-righteous, holier than thou, weak willed, lower case c christian.

Whilst Nineveh has its trials and tribulations, there’s a purpose in being there, and unlike Jonah we can rejoice in the number of people we may or may not see repent. It’s not our business to know the outcome, but only keep faithful to the call. So whether our home, work, school, social media, even church is Nineveh, let’s stay faithful. Maybe we can make like Jonah and after we speak truth, perch ourselves in a quiet place and just wait for God to work. He may not blow up the place, or He might, but He may also bring about salvation, as He did in Nineveh. And that’s always worth the wait. We might find out soon what that feels like. Only God knows.