Worthless Idols 8

Clinging to Worthless Idols Part 8

Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

After the lot fell to Jonah the sailors were angry. Here they were, just doing their job, living to the best of their ability and Jonah brings in the wrath of God in one fell swoop. I will say it again...sin never just hurts the sinner but every person who comes in contact with the sinner.
The sailors didn't just ask him..they demanded that he tell them everything. They wanted to know exactly who this man was that had unleashed the power of God on their heads. The wanted to know, not only what his occupation was but WHOSE workmanship he was.
Whose workmanship are you? Can others see the stamp of the artist that created you when they look at you? Anyone that has studied any art at all can usually pick out a Da Vinci or a Rembrandt, or even a Dali. Their workmanship is obvious, the very touch of their hand has signed their work more so than even their signature.
So when others look at your life (and mine) what do they see? Can they tell the workmanship?
The men wanted to know everything when they asked that. Whose workmanship, whose property, what religious sect do you belong to? What politics do you subscribe to? They were asking Jonah to prove his existence. Then they asked even more questions:
Where have you come from? Who counts you among their friends?
When they asked what country he came from they used a word that translates about 20 ways, including what world do you come from? In other words, I think they suspected he was a demon come to cause trouble for them. Their last question was " Who are your kinsmen, your people, your country-men?"
Ever meet anyone who was acting out of this world? I have. I have met Christians and had to look twice, thinking, what planet did you fly your broom in from?
When we are in rebellion we do not reflect Christ. To say that we do is deception.You can not be running from the Lord and serve Him at the same time, and while He may still be able to use you in the lives of others there will be a price that all have to pay.
You have, I have, two choices. His way or our way...The way of the flesh ends in death. Sometimes physical, always the death of something important to us. A hardening in our spirit. A callousness, coldness.
Who are you, today? Who claims you as their own? Where are your roots? What do you believe? Noone asked Moses that, noone asked David that, noone asked Jesus that.
I pray noone will ask you that.
Lord help it to be obvious Who we belong to, what we believe and from whence we came. Help us follow you in all things.
Amen