(Read Jonah 1)
IS the reader of this one who is desirous of feeling himself freed from the fear of the wrath of God, and who is going about to do something to attain this? Your case, dear friend, is then met by what you see befel this crew. They find themselves threatened by a fearful storm, which is about to overwhelm them. They strive to save themselves by lightening the ship it is in vain in a sort of interlude, they learn that if they throw Jonah into the sea, which threatens to destroy them, all will be well. Treating this with incredulity, they turn again to themselves, and do their best, by rowing, to reach the shore. Failure again. At last, driven to the last extremity, they determine to carry out Jonah's directions, and throw him into the raging deep. The result is an immediate cessation of the storm, and all is quiet. The voice of praise and thanksgiving ascends.
Unconverted one, who is your Jonah? Even Jesus. He is offered to you now. Do not, like these sailors, put any trust in yourself, in the efforts which you may put forth. See how vain they were here. Have you any reason for thinking that you will be any more successful than others before you, who have tried the same thing? Jesus, you know, has borne on the Cross the wrath which God must otherwise pour out upon you. You do not come under condemnation if you believe (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)), for Jesus has already borne the wrath instead of you. But, remember, if you do not believe, wrath abideth on you (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Notice the tardiness and unwillingness of these men to take advantage of the way of escape put before them. Why was this? Is it not that they did not like to think that they could only be saved by giving up their own efforts, and acknowledging themselves as helpless. To say, “I am powerless," is more than the natural man can bring himself to do. Yet it must be done. Remember what the alternatives are complete surrender of yourself, with everlasting happiness in the presence of Christ, or a pampering of yourself by giving way to your pride, and with everlasting torment in the flames of hell, with Satan as your associate! There is no middle way. Do not let the devil persuade you for a moment to put off your decision, but let it be made at once, and let it be finally done. No half-heartedness in the things of Christ will do.
I would say a word to the careless, to the indifferent. Have you ever had your character written out in the hard, uncompromising lines of truth? I have. Shall I tell you where? Yours is there also. I speak plainly, for it is the matter of your soul's salvation, and I must be earnest.
We see, then, our character as natural men in Rom. 3:10-1910As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:10‑19). The judgments of such you may find in Rom. 1:18; 2:8, 918For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)
8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (Romans 2:8‑9). Look at them, and may God's Holy Spirit open your eyes.
G. A. VAN S.