I Wonder: Where Am I Going?

In this lesson, we will consider the Old Testament book of Jonah that depicts an incident in the life of the book’s namesake.  We will learn from him the key to living a worthwhile life.
 
Happiness comes along in the natural procession of life.  Those who establish a worthwhile lifestyle and pursue it find happiness in life.  You might then ask, “What is a worthwhile lifestyle?”  Those who seem to be most happy are those who have attained a right relationship with the God of the universe, and the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
 
All of us are looking for happiness.  However, if the above statement is true, then the reason for failing to find happiness might actually be in the search for it.  The statement suggests that those who are so pre-occupied with finding happiness are the ones who actually fail to find it.
 
“The person who searches for happiness rarely finds it.  Happiness is a by-product, not a goal.”
 

 
1.         Am I Going Away From God?
 

As this short book opens, God gives Jonah a command to go and preach to the wicked city of Nineveh (1:1-2).  The message was clear.  Their wickedness had brought the wrath of God against them.  But, instead of following God’s command to “Arise and go to Nineveh,” he turns toward another place to run from God.  This brought great trouble upon him.
 
In the first chapter, Jonah is going away from God.  He knows God’s command but willfully violates it.  Let’s notice the attitude of Jonah as he runs from God. 
 
First, (1:3).we see that he runs away through his own determination. He weighs God’s command against his alternatives and chooses the latter.  Second, he plans a different direction from the one God had given.  He plans instead to go to Tarshish.  Third, we see his mind set on this destination.  He not only made plans, but even carried them out by hiring a ship, paying his fare, and going down into the ship.
 
Now, in the same way that Jonah fled from God, we, too try to flee from Him at times.  When we willfully violate God’s will (determination), plan our own course of action (direction), and proceed to put our plan into action (destination), we have acted in the same way that Jonah did as he was going away from God.

 
2.         Am I Going Aimed At God?
 

The second chapter of this book finds Jonah in a much different attitude.  At the close of chapter one, a great storm has come upon the sea and ship wherein Jonah rides (1:10-15).  Upon investigation, it is determined that God has sent the storm as a message that someone on board has sinned.  The casting of lots shows Jonah to be the guilty man and he tells them to cast him overboard and all will be fine. 
 
God had already prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.  “And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (1:17)  It is here that Jonah fully realizes his condition and makes a change.
 
Jonah’s change or repentance is evidenced by the prayer of Jonah that consumes the whole of chapter two.  He sees his error and the results of disobeying God.  Thus, his heart is turned and he determines now to aim at God.  This change of heart and prayer are rewarded by God in deliverance from the great fish. 
 
Things are no different even today.  Any time any person realizes that he or she is aimed in the wrong direction, a change can be made.  It begins with an attitude adjustment and a direction change.

 
3.         Am I Going Alongside of God?
 

His determination and his direction now changed, Jonah is ready to proceed on God’s side and in His will.  It was not enough for him to simply change his mind; he, also, had to change his life. 
 
Jonah did just that.  Whereas he had been going in the wrong direction, he was now going in the right direction.  Whereas he had been guilty of the wrong determination, he now had the right determination.  And, whereas the destination of his former trip would have been wrong, the destination of his present trip will be right if he continues.

God.  He will do the things God commands, speak the things that God has spoken, and do everything to God’s glory and not to personal gain.alongside ofThe same things will characterize the life of every individual who is going
 
we know that Jonah properly called attention to God in his preaching rather than to himself.“believed God,” when the Bible records that the people verse 5, we find him preaching the message that God had given.  Finally, in verse 4  He took the job that was given him.  In “Jonah arose to go to Nineveh.” the Bible says that ,verse 3,  In alongside of GodLet’s notice the evidence presented proving that Jonah is now proceeding

 
4.         Am I Going Ahead of God?
 

However, this story of Jonah closes with an incident which could, in principle, be a source of temptation for us.  After this great victory over himself and his work for God was completed, Jonah shows that his attitude is not quite right.
 
God removed the punishment that He was going to shower on them because they repented and Jonah was displeased.  He felt that God should have destroyed them.  They were evil people and perhaps he felt that they were not quite as good as he.  He was so angry, in fact, that he asked to die.  Many times a great spiritual victory can be the source of a temptation to think ourselves better than anyone else.
 
God, again, teaches Jonah a lesson.  In the heat of the midday sun, God causes a gourd plant to grow rapidly and provide Jonah some shade.  The next day God causes a worm to eat the gourd so that it died.  The sun beats upon Jonah and he bemoans the death of the gourd.  God rebukes Jonah because He is concern for the sixscore thousand people of Nineveh.  That’s 120,000 people!
 
Jonah’s displeasure was the result of a selfish attitude that he had developed  and it came about following a great spiritual victory.  He felt he had arrived and needed no further check on himself.  However, Paul records,
 
I Corinthians 10:12,  “Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
 
As I look at my present lifestyle I must decide where I am going.  Is it away from God refusing His will?  Is it aimed at God?  I want to serve Him I just haven’t started?  Is it alongside of God  - doing all of what God commands?  Or is it ahead of God - I have spiritually arrived and don’t need to keep a watch on myself anymore?  If the answer is not number 3, something is wrong.

— Mike Johnson