Colonial Presbyterian Church

There is a necessary dying that must take place before we will ever meet the LORD in the deep. It is a dying to self. It is a dying to our pride and our idolatry. It is a dying to our self-made, self-promoting, self-centered worldview. It is a necessary dying...and that’s exactly where Jonah is right now.

If you know yourself to be saved…if you truly believe that you were bound for destruction in a storm of your own making and you were saved when Jesus took the dive on your behalf, then you will exceedingly fear the LORD. Love makes sacrifices. The call to substitutionary love is not optional for Christians; it defines Christians.

Take a good hard look into your identity. Listen carefully to the words that come out of your mouth. Be open to the possibility that you have an “othering” problem. Everything you hold dear is soon to be tested, and the test will reveal your true allegiance. Jonah is on the run from God. He has no intention of obeying God’s call upon his life to confront Israel’s enemy, that great city of Nineveh, with the news about God’s imminent justice and His offer of mercy. 

Today the Church universal gathers in every tribe, tongue and nation to celebrate the empty tomb and the joy of our Lord’s resurrection. The Empty Tomb is the hinge of history. Everything about our hope rests upon this historical fact: Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!

Jesus died so that you can have hope...the pain is hard...the people talk about you...the struggles are deep...but the closer you get to Jesus...the sweeter it gets...you began to look past the pain...and give praise...you began to look past the insults...and see a crown of righteousness...you began to look past the heartache...and see the glory of eternal life...you may have a cross...but for everyone that has a cross...there is a crown.