The heart and repentance

Jonah 2:4 (NKJV)

Then, I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple."

Amen, thank you LORD.

The above Scripture is an excerpt from the book of Jonah. At this moment in time, God had sent a great fish to swallow up Jonah when he was thrown into the sea as a result of his disobedience to God's instruction. God had sent Jonah to preach in a city called Nineveh (Jonah 1:2 & 3:2). However, Jonah disobeyed God and went in a completely different direction leading to this moment where he is literally inside a great fish. Jonah 1:17 says, "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

It is at this point that we see Jonah turning to God with a repentant heart. Today's lead verse tells us that Jonah said he would look again toward God's holy temple (Jonah 2:4). At the same time, we know that Jonah could not have possibly seen the physical temple of God while he was inside the belly of a great fish.

However, Jesus in John 4:23 told us that God is Spirit and those who truly seek Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Jonah clearly understood this because his wilful disobedience was clearly not trying to worship God. After he realized the consequences of his disobedience, his heart turned to God for redemption and deliverance. This is what Apostle Paul refers to as godly sorrow. Godly sorrow draws you closer to God by producing repentance leading to salvation and not to be regretted unlike the sorrow of the world that produces death because its condemnation draws you further away from God's presence. (2 Corinthians 7:10). When Jonah sought for God's help and deliverance despite his disobedience, God answered his prayer. Jonah 2:10 says, "So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto the dry land."

Later on, we see Jonah's repentance in manifestation (that is, his obedience) as he preached to the city and the people of Nineveh also repented of their sin before God. Jonah 3:10 says, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." Friend, God will not cast away anyone who comes to Him with a repentant heart that truly desires to walk according to God's ways. Jonah and the people of Nineveh are also an example of how God prepares the hearts of the people He sends to and before you.

I'll end with this Word found in 1 John 1:9 (AMP)

"If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: As God's precious one, if you would like to know and experience this love of God that forgives your sins, cleanses you and makes you whole,

I invite you to make this confession, "I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour today and forever." AMEN!

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.