When Jonah needed a second chance, God gave it to him. Jonah ran away from God’s call to go to Nineveh. Eventually, after a detour in the belly of a great fish, the word of the Lord came to Jonah “a second time.” God gave Jonah another chance to obey and get it right commanding him, “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you” (Jonah 3:2).
The word “Go” literally means “arise and go” or “get up and go.” It implies an imperative need to quickly obey. God is telling Jonah, “Don’t delay. Get up and do it now. Don’t wait another minute.”
Have you ever heard a command from God that you intended to obey, but you waited? Perhaps you delayed a little bit and reasoned you would get around to it later. So you waited and waited and waited. In the end you never obeyed God. If Jonah had waited too long, he might have eventually backed out again. He might have let the urgency to obey slowly fade away.
How many times have you let this happen in your life? God spoke to you clearly about an issue and you didn’t follow through. You were going to obey, but you waited. Perhaps God spoke to you in church on Sunday morning, or listening to Christian radio, talking to a friend, or reading your Bible. Wherever it was, God convicted you and laid something on your heart. You were committed to following through and obeying God. You told yourself that you were going to end an unhealthy, ungodly relationship. You told yourself and God that you were going to share your faith with a friend. Maybe you promised God that you going to begin to tithe, or give some money to meet a need. Maybe you told yourself you were finally going to forgive someone who had hurt you, or find some help to overcome your addiction.
There are numerous things that God might have laid on our heart. You knew it was him. Your heart was beating. Your mind was clear. You knew what you need to do. You just just needed to “get up and go,” but instead you waited. You stared making excuses, and putting it off. Maybe you rationalized that it wasn’t that big of a deal. And so you never followed through. You know what God calls that - disobedience.
Perhaps, God is calling you to “Get up and go” today. Go and obey. Do it. Walk in obedience to God. Don’t put it off anymore. If it is within your power and ability, don’t the let the sun go down another day without obeying the Lord.
I remember several years ago when I was in seminary, I felt I had been dishonest on an assignment I had turned in for one of my classes. It wasn’t a real big thing, but it was a compromise in my integrity. I made a bunch of excuses in my head, but I knew when I turned it in that I had not fully been honest. I went home for Christmas break, but guess what I couldn’t quit thinking about it? It was really hard for me to fully enjoy my self. I kept trying to blow it off, but I couldn’t. I knew what I had to do. When I got back to campus, I had to “get up and go” to my professor and make it right. He was very gracious and understanding. Even though in his mind, my indiscretion was fairly minute, he was glad I came to clear my conscience. I left his office that day feeling as though a load of bricks was off of my shoulder. I was free. I was right with God.
Is it time for you to get up and go? God gives second chances, but we must respond in obedience. So just do it. Now. Don’t wait any more. Get up and go obey. And that’s the word.
Tags: David Yarborough, Jonah, st. simons community church, the brunswick news, What's the Word?