#63a Jonah or Ananias ?? (27sep2005)

Word of God : Jonah or Ananias??
(#122 26th Sep 2005)


‘But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry’
Jonah 4:1

We as believers are both blessed and reassured to know that God walks closely with us, as the world today increasingly live out, the seemingly incessant torrent of earth-shaking events that most read about in the Bible, but never expected to experience in their lifetime.

‘.......thou art my hope in the day of evil’
Jeremiah 17:17

To the guy from New Orleans, lightning do strike twice.
Having to flee once again from the supposedly safe haven in Houston.

‘............I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness to consume them’
Ezekiel 20:13

‘I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy............’
Jeremiah 18:17

To the Houstonians, many of whom have been more than generous in extending a helping hand to their Hurricane Rita stricken neighbours from New Orleans, to have to face the wrath of an even more fearsome Hurricane Katrina, did not seem like Divine equitability for their equanimity.

‘Be not a terror unto me......................................’
Jeremiah 17:17

Did the good people in Houston in loving their fellow Americans from New Orleans, saved themselves from the wrath of God??

‘If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them’
Jeremiah 18:8

Who are we to judge??

Jonah was a reluctant messenger when God asked him to forewarn the very evil nation of Nineveh, of God’s anger with them and their impending destruction by God.

Yet, often like Jonah, we are quick off the draw in being angry with God when God does not punish repentant evil-doers.

We should not play God, but rather be an instrument of His Grace as He leads us.

Just like Ananias of Damascus, a believer of Christ, who placed aside his initial doubts about the wisdom of God wanting him to love a well-known and evil anti-Christ, and instead responded in obedience as God commanded.

‘And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him(ie Paul) said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, .............hath sent me, that thou might receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.’
Acts 9:17

The End Times does seem nearer, at least for those who happen to be in midst of the conundrum. The fury of mother nature throwing up its tsunamis, hurricanes; the extremities of men’s deviousness in 9/11s, Bali or London, or the preys taking on the role of the predators, be it mad cows, bird flu or mozzies,

‘the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye, and believe the gospel’
Mark 1:15

‘Thou knowest not the time of thy visitation’
Luke 19:44

The world will continue to see

‘............that signs and wonders may be done, by the name of thy holy child Jesus’
Acts 4:30

But in the midst of their next life shattering experience, in knowing Christ, there will be no need for sighs of despair, nor room in their hearts for fear to take root and wander all over them.

‘I will both lay down in peace, and sleep for thou, Lord, only maketh me dwell in safety’
Psalm 4:8

‘I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.....’
Philippians 3:8-9
God Blesses

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