The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-18
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
The Ticket to The Wrong Place.

The Ticket to The Wrong Place.
The book of Jonah has some fine
gospel lessons in it.
The author was self-willed man who
wanted his own way and hence had to
be taught the necessity of obedience to
higher authority. He had to learn
that Gods authority was supreme.
Jonah was face to face with the grand
est opportunity of his life, but he failed,
because of his unwillingness to obey the
command of God. God loyes the world
and has sent His Son to die for it. He has
given US the Bible which is intended
for our instruction in the way of the
salvation, sanctification and Qualification
of HIS people. 1t shows US that those
who walk in it's light will be saved to
serve in the Kingdom of Heaven. The
book of Jonah was part of the Bible
of Jesus. When He said, Search the
Scriptures" He meant the Old Tesla
ment He put His official endorsement
on the book of Jonah as being inspired.
Jonah was type of Christ. God loved
Neneveh and desired to save it. so he
wanted Jonah to 60 down with His mes
sage of salvation to that benighted and
wicked city-a city full of corruption. a
city that did not care for, or even think
of God, though He cared for Neneyeh
and maintained His interest in it and
was true to His purpose to save, until
the work was done. What picture of
the divine love for sinnersl
1t was big work for a small man,
man of no special reputation Ordi-
narlly we would want big man for that
job. Have we church debt we must send
off and get specialist, supposedly
great man to raise the debt, or to con-
duct the evangelistic campaign. But
God selects His own messengers. How
do churches select pastors now a-days,
Not by prayer, but usually by COM
mittee popularity known as the smelling
committee.
The people of Neneveh would prob
ably have selected Isaiah, or jeremiah,
or Daniel, by reason. of their reputation
but the Lord chose a man who had been
used but once, and that was sent to a
King with special message which he
faithfully delivered. His work must
have satisfied the Lord, for now he is
to be sent on the greatest evangeistic
service which has ever been rendered
by any one man IN the same length of
time, in the history of the world. But
he shrank from the task He was
afraid of man; afraid of failure; afraid
of criticism or ridicule. Moses, when
called to hard task, argued the case
with the Lord, but, while the LORD
! hundred his whims, he lost much OF
the honor that would have been his.
He shared the glory with Aaron, when
he might have had it all himself. Jere.
mlah reasoned the question with the
Lord, but Jonah promptly disobeyeI
and ran away. He apparently &C
guessed, went down to Joppe and
bought his ticket for Tarshish instead
of Neneveh.
God said go to Neneveh, but Jonah
said perfer Tarshish. The Lord said
800 miles east, but self willed Jonah
said I'll go 1000 miles east. God told
him to preach, but Jonah said, I'll hide
and he tried to hide from the presence
of the Lord, but though we go down in
to the depths of the sea, even then
Coos eye is upon US. 1t is a sad
tragedy, but with all his imperfections,
he is still a prophet of God. He is
human and imperfect, but he is sincere
and desires to be of use. But fear
overcomes him. Many worker in the
Lords vineyard is subject to the same
terror audit always weakens our powers
How hsall we overcome this fear, and
be erergized for His great work? If it
is necessary to work miracle, God will
do it. He did so in this case, but Jonah
walked the streets of Neneveh with un.
faltering foot, his face heayenward,
and his voice sounding out the divine
message. yet forty days and Neneveh
will be destroyed" That was a short
sermon but it was powerful one.
From king to beggar the inhabitants
of that corrupt city turned to God. 1t
was worth miracle. How often in
life has the experience of Jonah been
repeated, and how oft too. like Jonah,
are we made to pronounce our own
sentence. A great task confronts US
We shrink from it. We know our
weakness and fear failure. but if the