Freedom Of Choice

His Word:  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.  Isaiah 61:1 NLT

Observation & Obedience: Today we celebrate our nation’s freedom; something we don’t take for granted as we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for it. But there’s another kind of freedom that’s available to us as well. It’s one that doesn’t always require a physical sacrifice, but often a personal one; it’s our freedom of choice.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he decided to run away from God instead of obeying his command to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and warn them of their coming destruction. Jonah had grown up hating the people of Nineveh and in his mind, they deserved to be destroyed and he chose to have no part in their salvation…..first mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he offered himself as a sacrifice to calm a raging storm. Jonah had settled in on the ship headed 2000 miles in the opposite direction of Nineveh when God “caught up with him!” This choice demonstrated how hatred for the people of Nineveh had warped his perspective. He was willing to die so the sailors could live but he was unwilling to obey God and take his message of life and freedom to the Ninevites….second mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he reconsidered his actions after spending three days and nights in the belly of a large fish. In Jonah 2, we see his prayer is one of thanksgiving; thankful for not having drowned, not a prayer of repentance. Jonah acknowledged the vow he made when he became a prophet of God and was now choosing to fulfill it; even if it meant doing something he didn’t want to do.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when given a second chance; he responded to God with obedience and went to Nineveh. His short, 8-word message, 40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown (Jonah 3:4) spoke directly to the heart of the people. They confessed their sins, turned from their wickedness and in God’s love and mercy, he spared the city of 600,000!

Jonah must have been thrilled! After all, he’s just been a part of the largest revival in Bible history. You’d think he’d be celebrating God’s goodness and thanking God for choosing him to be the one to deliver his message.  But in chapter 4, we see this isn’t the case. Jonah is extremely angry and greatly displeased with God….third mistake.

The question to ask here is WHO needed the most transformation? Was it the hateful Ninevites or the hate-filled Jonah? Proverbs 27:19 says, As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.  Jonah’s responses to what God had chosen to do reflect what was in his heart. And based on his actions, it was a heart full of self-centeredness, selfishness, self-pity and a lack of self-control. 

God used his freedom of choice and responded to Jonah’s moaning with a call for an attitude adjustment. Jonah needed to see that his perspective and priorities were way off. God wanted Jonah to realize, although he had the freedom of choice, God was in ultimate control. The book of Jonah ends here. God chooses not to tell us if Jonah ever gets the message and has a change of heart. 

It feels like we are losing ground on our religious freedoms. That is why we must stand for our faith, not run away, and exercise our rights as Christians. Like Isaiah, God wants us to speak the good news, be a comfort to the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom for those held captive by sin, hatred, unforgiveness and selfish pride. We all have choices; don’t let your story end like Jonah’s. 

Prayer: Are you using your freedom of choice to run away from God? Are there nasty attitudes toward others that you’re choosing to ignore? Ask God to show you where you may be abusing your freedom of choice and thank him for being the God of second, third, fourth and one-thousandth chances!

Encouragement: The truth sets you free, BUT it makes you miserable until you face it.    Rick Warren