NOT TOO LATE TO REPENT
Jonah 2: 1-10
In the previous chapter, Jonah was cast into the sea (at his own request so that the sea could be calm. As far as his companions were concerned, he had perished in the ocean. That is why they prayed “O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man “(Jonah 2:13). Yes. They thought that was the end of Jonah. But that was not the end for him.
The Lord made a provision for him to be saved. He provided a giant fish to swallow him. Inside the belly of the fish, he prayed the prayer of repentance.
In my distress, I called to the LORD and he answered me. From the depth of the grave, I called for help and you listened to my cry. . . I said I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. . . To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever, But you brought my life up from the part O LORD my God. Jonah 2:1,4,6
Men thought Jonah died. But the Lord provided a way out. You may have been written off by men. They may have concluded that God will not forgive you or give you another chance. If you will not give up on yourself, God will not give up on you. It does not matter how deep you have sank or you think God has forsaken you, if only you will look up to him, he is merciful and salvation belongs to him. He will answer you if you call on him. If you sin and you feel you are going through the repercussions, go to God in full repentance. If Jonah got a second chance, so can you.
Don’t condemn yourself by the judgment of the world. Remember the woman caught in adultery? She was caught in the very act. But Jesus gave her another chance. “Go and sin no more”, Jesus told her. That is it! If you will genuinely repent and forsake, God will give you another chance. All your mockers will just wonder at your transformation. Imagine what the co-passengers would say if they heard that Jonah eventually got to Nineveh. “But we thought he had died in the sea! How come He is preaching at Nineveh?
Beloved, a new life awaits you. That you fell before is not a reason for you to remain down. People who mocked your fall will soon applaud your rising. Don’t stay down. Cet up and get going. God is on your side. The sun will shine again.
MEDITATION: 1 John 2: 1-2
