When Unbelievers Listen to God's Word
Nineveh was one of the most evil cities in the world at the time of Jonah. God sent Jonah to tell them simply that they would be destroyed in 40 days. He did not give them a way out, but they knew in their hearts what to do, so that God might change His mind. They believed God, repented of their evil ways; they fasted, and put on sackcloth. God saw their works and changed his mind.(Jonah 3:5,10) What an amazing thing that happened when the unbelieving Ninevites decided to believe God and repent. God's heart was touched by their sincere belief, and they were saved from disaster and death.
What is even more interesting to me is that His own people did not believe the Prophets and repent of their sins. Nineveh had one prophet with a very simple message. They did the right thing. God's people had many Prophets with a very direct and complete message, but they would not listen. They continued to do the wrong things. In reality the unbelievers were more sensitive to God's Word and more ready to repent than God's people.
I believe if we had more people proclaiming God's Word today, we would see more awakenings like this. We must not think that all unbelievers are hard hearted people who will never repent and turn to God. Sometimes, they are the ones who are the most ready, but they have never heard the truth. No one has ever told them. When they hear it, they quickly turn from their sins and believe God. It is the folks who were raised in church, and they think they know the Lord, but don't, that are the hardest to reach. They have been inoculated with just enough religion to keep them from coming down with a real case of believing in the Lord. Let's take God's Word directly to the unbelievers around us and trust the results to the Lord. Then, let's watch to see what happens.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 2-4.
What is even more interesting to me is that His own people did not believe the Prophets and repent of their sins. Nineveh had one prophet with a very simple message. They did the right thing. God's people had many Prophets with a very direct and complete message, but they would not listen. They continued to do the wrong things. In reality the unbelievers were more sensitive to God's Word and more ready to repent than God's people.
I believe if we had more people proclaiming God's Word today, we would see more awakenings like this. We must not think that all unbelievers are hard hearted people who will never repent and turn to God. Sometimes, they are the ones who are the most ready, but they have never heard the truth. No one has ever told them. When they hear it, they quickly turn from their sins and believe God. It is the folks who were raised in church, and they think they know the Lord, but don't, that are the hardest to reach. They have been inoculated with just enough religion to keep them from coming down with a real case of believing in the Lord. Let's take God's Word directly to the unbelievers around us and trust the results to the Lord. Then, let's watch to see what happens.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 2-4.