“For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19).

Daughter: “Daddy, should I marry him?”
Dad:”What does your heart say?”

Son: “Mom, should I take this job?”
Mom: “What does your heart say?”

Do what your heart says…

Gee.

Horrendous advice. The heart is a terrible guide. Listen to what Jesus says about the heart. The heart is the originator of murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. There is nothing good about any of these things. These are terrible things.

And, yet, it gets worse.

You see, the New Testament didn’t have the linguistic tool, “etc.” In order to specify etcetera, the Greeks would list similar words together. It was assumed by the reader that the listing of similar things implied that the list goes on with other similar things.

So, imagine everything bad. Everything sinful. Everything terrible. Everything that destroys.

That’s the heart. The heart is the author and the generator of all such evil. So, do you really think it would be a good idea for anyone to do what their heart tells them to do?

Absolutely not. Lean on God. Trust God’s word. Obey him.

“Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12).

What goes through your mind when you read that sentence? Does the thought of meeting God face to face bring you joy and excitement? Or does the thought of meeting God bring absolute terror?

That depends on who God is. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, God is your loving Father. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, God is the judge who will judge between the good and evil and punish all sinners. If Jesus is not your Lord, the thought of seeing God face to face is absolutely terrifying.

The above text comes in Amos chapter 4. The entire chapter is about a God who has done everything he can to cause his people to return to him and repent. Prior to verse twelve that reads: “Prepare to meet your God,” the phrase “Yet you have not returned to me” occurs five times (v.6, 8, 9, 10, 11). God goes out of his way to let the people know that they are being judged. God goes out of his way that the only pathway to salvation is through God’s mercy. God goes out of his way inviting sinners to return to him and repent.

When we obstinately reject God’s invitation, the day when we will meet him as he sits on the throne of judgment will come.

It is God’s desire that not one should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

Repent and return to the Lord.

“But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry” (Jonah 4:1).

Look at the opening words again: “But to Jonah this seemed very wrong.”

What seemed very wrong? What was Jonah so upset about? Who was Jonah upset with?

God.

You see, God sent Jonah to Nineveh, the terrible enemy to all Jews. These were people who terrorized, murdered, raped, and pillaged the Jews. This would be like saying God sent Jonah, a Jewish man, to Hamas.

As odd as sending a Jewish man to the Hamas, the message which Jonah proclaimed was more palatable. Jonah prophesied doom: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). If any message from God were to be uttered, this was it! This was more to Jonah’s liking.

BUT…

The people of Nineveh believed the prophet’s words. They believed Jonah and repented. They repented not even knowing if God would listen to their prayer or not. But they knew they were guilty. They knew God’s judgment was correct. So, they confessed their sins and repented and placed their lives in the hands of God.

AND…

God relented. God forgave. God heard the prayers of the people of Nineveh.

That’s why Jonah was so angry. What? No damnation and destruction? Forgiveness? Are you kidding me?

Jonah had a massive meltdown. Not only did Jonah think God was wrong and messed up, he was ticked. He was angry.

Friends, if you ever find yourself at odds with God, where you think God messed up, where you think God is wrong, so wrong that you are furious with what God says in his word? When you are at odds with God, when you are at odds with what God says, who do you think is wrong?

Yeah. It’s silly isn’t it? When you find yourselves at odds with God…surrender anyway, submit anyway, obey anyway. One hundred million percent, you are wrong and God is right.

Surrender. Submit. Obey.