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The Comfort Zone

Ravi Zacharias

In the life of the prophet Jonah, we can see that he was out of touch with
the people's need, and he was out of touch with the message that he had to
give. The only thing that Jonah was in touch with was his own comfort.

The story is told of how he fell asleep under the shade of a vine, but then
when the vine withered, he got angry with God. He suddenly erupted with
displeasure and said to God, "How is it that you planted this vine and in a
few short hours let it die?" God was waiting for Jonah to raise the question
and said, "Jonah, you have become concerned about this vine but did not
understand my concern for the whole city of Ninevah?" Is it not amazing how
our priorities get warped or how our emotions betray our priorities? Jonah
was angry with God over a little plant, but could not see that God cared for
a dying city. He wanted God to ignore that city.

Here is the painful truth. We often move in the direction of our comfort and
resist anything that threatens our personal luxuries. The truth is that some
of the greatest needs in the world have been met because someone was willing
to sacrifice their own comfort to take the love of Christ to someone else. I
think, for example, of David Livingstone of Blantyre, Scotland and his
mission to Africa. He paid with his life and indeed the lives of his family
members. The same was true of William Carey in his mission to India. You can
read biography after biography and find such stories told. We live in a day
where it is easy to see all that is wrong with some in ministry. When
ministers go wrong, with glee the critic goes after them. We forget that
there are large numbers who have forfeited the fame and accolades of
humanity.

I remember during the days of the Vietnam war, speaking through the length
and breadth of the country. I stayed in many missionaries' homes. At night
they would put bars across the doors, not knowing what lurked in the
darkness. Why? For the cause of the Gospel. God has many such heroes. One of
my classmates in seminary was martyred for the Gospel. But of all the
sacrifice, none is greater than the one Jesus offers to you. He came and
laid down His life that You and I might live. He forewent His own comfort so
that you and I might find our comfort in Him. Have you thanked Him lately
for what He has done for you? Or are you lost in your comfort forgetting His
sacrifice for you, indeed, for the whole world? He calls to you today to
find your greatest comfort in Him.

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Copyright (p)(c) 2000 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).
Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi
Zacharias International Ministries

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["EXAMINE YOURSELVES WHETHER YOU ARE IN FAITH." (2 Cor 13:5)]
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