Jonah Comes to America

By Chad Taylor

”And the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh that great city, and preach to it the preaching that I give you.’ And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown…” (Jonah 2:1-3.)

I heard that Lord say so clearly today, “Jonah comes to America…” What Jonah represents is so important for America to grasp. Jonah represented repentance. From the least to the greatest, they repented. The echo of Jonah’s words are ringing in our ears in this hour. Nothing happens outside of God’s providence. Though Job questioned it, he later saw that God’s hand was in his hardship and tragedy. It was working in him a greater glory and a greater revelation. Even today we see the light at the end of this dark tunnel of tragedy. At the end is restoration and revival, but this will only be accomplished through repentance. ‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, He is just and faithful to forgive us…” (1st John 1:8-9).

We dare not say that this moment in history has no purpose or that God’s hand is not upon it. He does have a purpose. That purpose has been the same throughout the pages of history, for a nation to turn to Him with prayer and fasting, to repent and turn their hearts toward God. It is no different today. America must see this as a great window of opportunity for revival. It is a window in time for America to repent and get right with Him, which in turn will usher in a spiritual awakening that will sweep millions, possibly billions of souls into His kingdom. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent…” (Rev. 3:19).

One point must be heeded here with Jonah and Nineveh. Jonah was unwilling to go to Nineveh at God’s first bidding. The prophets and preachers in this hour cannot be afraid to cry out for repentance. We cannot shy away from the message of this hour, “REPENT AND BE SAVED.” We cannot as ministers and Christians be afraid to cry out repentance from the pulpit to the streets. It is only when a nation repents does He pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. “If My people which are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land…” (2nd Chronicles 7:14).

God still exalts the humble. The most important reaction right now in America is humility and repentance. You cannot repent if you do not put on humility. Humility is revival’s garment. Without humility our humanity shows through and we begin to believe in ourselves more than God. America is not what She is without God. These present circumstances are a trumpet blast reminder to all of us that we so desperately need Him in our country and in our personal lives. “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God, yes, let every one turn from his evil way, and the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?” (Jonah 3:8-9).

Repentance and revival will always reach the streets. In all reality that is probably why the Lord poured it out in the first place, to get His church into a position of power to finally reach Her streets and nation. Revival is the first fruits of repentance. One does not exist without the other. The ultimate result of God’s judgment is not destruction but salvation. He judges to save. He judged His own Son, not to destroy Him but to raise Him up. He is not judging America right now to destroy her, but to raise her up in resurrection glory and power.

America’s greatest hour is still before her, but it will only begin when she comes through the threshold of repentance and begins to seek the Lord with all of her heart, soul, strength and mind. In that secret place of His glory we will begin to abide under the shadow of the Most High. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me…” (Revelation 3:20).