By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Will you have to be thrown in the sea?
pastor corner

In the Old Testament, there is an account given of a man who tried to run from God. This man’s name was Jonah.

 Jonah was given a mission by God. The mission was to warn the people of Nineveh to repent and turn to God. Jonah did not like these people and wanted them to be punished by God. Surely if one is given a message from God it would be obeyed. Not Jonah he chose to ignore God’s word. Those familiar with the book of Jonah will remember that Jonah boarded a boat headed in the opposite direction from Nineveh. During his boat ride a storm came up, the sea became rough, and how the sailors eventually tossed Jonah overboard. A great fish had been prepared by God, and it swallowed Jonah. Jonah immediately realizes his need to run to God and not away from Him. Man today is also given a message from God. Yet just like Jonah many run from obeying God. Some become too busy to listen to God, so they fail to read and study the Bible.

worship God and never learn what to do to be saved. Others know that the life style they live does not match how God wants all men to live.

God’s words are recorded in the Bible, God’s inspired book. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16). God wants all men to come to Him by obedience to the gospel. After obeying the gospel one must live as a Christian, faithfully following God each and every day.

Jonah learned that he needed God, and that God must be obeyed. This is the same lesson man needs today.

Man needs God in his life. If God is the center of each person’s life, life itself will be better. Husbands will be the best husbands they can be, wives will be the best wives, parents the best parents, children the best children, and on and on we could go. To many times people must be “thrown in the sea” before they realize they need God in their life. We need to have God in our lives during the good times and the bad times that come our way. God desires all men to be saved, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4). However, man can run from God for a time, but one day man’s running will stop and he will have to face God. Why run from God? Will it take being thrown into the “ocean” to cause one to come to their senses?

Why not study His word and obey Him, believe in Christ, turn from sin and be baptized for the remission of sin? Run to God rather than away from Him.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters