We fear to reach out
The captain tried everything. He ordered the sailors to lighten the load, so the cargo was thrown overboard. If they survived the storm, they would lose all of the revenue from this trip. Someone suggested that they pray. So all the sailors prayed to their gods. But the storm grew only more intense.
The captain shouted over the howling wind, "I’m out of ideas. Does anyone else have any suggestions?"
One of the men replied: "You know that crazy Hebrew we took on board at Joppa? Well while we carried up the cargo from the hold, I couldn’t help noticing that he’s sound asleep."
Someone else said, "Why isn’t he praying?"
"I’ll go find out," said the captain. Holding onto the railing, he struggled to keep his footing as he made his way down the stairs to Jonah’s bed. Sure enough, the Hebrew was sound asleep. He was snoring!
If nothing else will wake us up, maybe the LOST will wake us up!
Jonah ran away from God. The heathen sailors told Jonah to go back to his God. Sounds strange, but the sailors challenged Jonah because of their dire need.
Today it’s the same. A brother Andrew mentioned a few years ago he was speaking with Mahmoud Zahar, one of the founders and leaders of Hamas. He challenged him to stop the suicide bombings in Israel because "Jesus is against violence." Mahmoud sadly shook his head and said, "But Andrew, Jesus is not here anymore."
He wanted to cry, "But I’m here! Don’t you see Jesus in me?"
On another occasion a wonderful Palestinian professor of Islam lamented the state of his people and then pleaded with : "Andrew, if you are still in touch with Jesus, will you ask Him to come soon and help us?" It was a sincere plea.
The captain likewise pleaded with Jonah.
Why did the sailors ask Jonah to call on his God? Because he had something that might meet their need. Jonah had told them that he was running away from God. Obviously he knew something about his God that the sailors did not know about their gods. The difference was that Jonah had a relationship with God. And if he had a relationship with God, maybe he could intercede on their behalf.
Do you hear the cry of the lost? They are telling us to wake up and give them hope. You protest: "They never ask me about my faith, not like the sailors asked Jonah." Perhaps, you aren’t asked because you don’t live a different life. No one is jealous of you. Nobody wants what you have. You are so neutral that you have not even offended anyone.
It’s terrible to live and not know why you were born.
It’s terrible to die and not know why you lived.
Its just as terrible to be lost and never found. I sincerely see how LOST they are and pray for their salvation.