Jonah 1:2 Announcing judgment?

Jonah 1:2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”

Should we still be announcing judgment? Jesus certainly indicated judgment is a certain future reality for us all. To speak of hell or eternal torment in the UK today even amongst believers is difficult as many find such talk incompatible with a loving and gracious God. Jesus of course had no such qualms. However in the society of His day though many did not believe in hell the notion may not have been ridiculed and made fun of as it is by sophisticated, secular intellectuals amongst others. However, for those who really have messed up their lives and know it the concept of punishment for wrong doing is not so difficult to accept. It is those who think their lives are fine, the smug who don’t see their need for God who object so violently to the possibility of suffering for the consequences of wrong doing. When we pray for those who don’t know God, let us pray that they will come to realize their sinfulness and need of God and His mercy without which we all incur His wrath.

Father, thank you for rescuing us from hell and giving us abundant and eternal life with you.