Is there anybody you’d rather not see in heaven? What if God chooses to extend mercy to that person? Would you go away and pout like Jonah?
When Jonah finally got his directions straight and went to preach to Nineveh, he was distraught because they heeded his warnings about God’s coming judgment, and God showed them mercy by reneging on his intention to destroy the city. Turns out this is exactly what Jonah was afraid would happen, and that’s why he didn’t want to go there in the first place. In this case, Jonah was all over justice being done, but the city got mercy instead.
Justice and mercy are two sides of God that come together in Christ. The cross of Christ is both the justice of God and the mercy of God. It is the justice of God in that it is the payment for sin. If you’ve ever wished an evil act would get its proper due, that wish was fulfilled in the cross. The cross catches the human race in the act of sin and disobedience. It’s the bad guys getting what they deserve. But it is also the mercy of God in that Christ is on it and not you or me. Christ is on it in our place, and that’s where this gets personal. Everybody gets it, even the bad guys I wish God’s judgment on. If I want mercy for myself, I have to allow it for everyone else with no partiality. This is the lesson Jonah had to learn and I’m not so sure he learned it. Nineveh repented of it’s evil ways, but there is no indication that Jonah repented of his judgment without mercy.
Mercy is such good news. It is good news for everyone, but especially for me, because I know my sin better than anyone, but it must be given to be received. You can’t receive mercy and still make everyone around you pay. If you get mercy, they get it — even the worst of them — the ones you hope you don’t see in heaven.
We may need to make some adjustments in our thinking.
John Fischer The Catch 
I can empathize with Jonah. He lost a lot to those Ninevites. We are still living with those evil acts, the consequences of which affect us, our lives, our families, our children, and our grandchildren, though they are atoned for by our Savior and His cross. So…when I and MANY others have been praying for someone who was a Christian and in leadership in our church, and is now in the midst of his sin choices and my child and her children are suffering through abusive visitation with their father and his 3rd wife, and many court visits and thousands of dollars of lawyers fees and unjust judges, it is most difficult to not want justice for them and mercy for us. Personally, I would love to have him surrender his heart back to God, but I am not seeing the evidence that God is causing his heart to change while we are still living with these events. It would certainly make our lives easier. Not God’s plan for today for sure and this weekend when my grandson has to go overnight at their home. My grandchildren are losing sleep, suffering in their lives and school. My daughter is a great mother but she is reaping their anger, sorrow and pain. I love them so much. It grieves me. I have been a Christian since 1977 and the times do not get easier. I am so soul weary today. Please pray for my daughter, Traci, grandchildren Rebecca 17 and Luke 14.5. Great kids. God must have something special in mind for them in His kingdom. Pray for our steadfast faith and God’s mercies and most of all their safety. 🙂 Jean
“Vengeance is mine” says the Lord. “I will repay.”
i must be a bit strange. But I can’t for the life of recall ever wishing I don’t want to see any one or more person in heaven. I certainly am emotional when the unspeakable has taken place, due to the most dispicable mind to condjure up such senseless heartbreak and pain. Having said that I do not begrudge anyone who has suffered to feel what ever might over take them, i pray they heal. I stagger with emotion with the likes of the child molester, I ‘ll hold off saying a number of other things. I guess there’s kind of switch that is activated in me that tells me their deeds are in the hands of the Creator. I do have events in my life that fueled an anger that scared me to think Oh no I’ve lost myself. But the Peace of God prevailed. Less I forget, I won’t see any one I want to see if I’m not there!!
Sorry I left out five words “I don’t deserve to be”
As an aside – Justice and Mercy were the words emblazoned on the official banner of the Spanish Inquisition – that is what the wrong spirit can do with even the best concept. We don’t get it. We need to.
Did Jonah get it? Does the fact that he wrote the story down without whitewashing his role in it, plus the rhetorical question of the last sentence give us some indication? 🙂
When I feel I have been treated unjustly, I try to recall times when I acted unjustly toward others and the forgiving way I was treated. At the time I may not have realized it, maybe I thought I was getting away with something, gaining an advantage. We receive gifts everyday from others. Their silence and patience may not be a sign of their ignorance of your injustice.
Also John slap me back in line, if I’m off base here. But any and all that we will run accross in Heaven are new creatures in Jesus. The worst of the worst , no where in site.Just God ‘s Glory and Mercy iIlluminated. No place in Heaven for “Yeah look at what kind of Beast that guy was “. If therers no place in Heaven for it here, how can there be room for it here? Can the Holy Spirit wipe the slate clean ? It’s not my place to define such a burden so heavy a load that has me contiplating matters that are of God concern. It may cause some to stumble. Remember “Don’t concern Yourself of what path someone else goes down. Watch where your steps take You”.( Paraphase sorry).
I often wonder how much we will be able to remember. If we can time travel, forget remembering, we may be able to watch ourselves doing what we’re doing right now. Now that should sober us right up!
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Superb blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
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Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option?
There are so many options out there that I’m totally confused .. Any suggestions? Appreciate it!