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What do you think Jonah smelled like?

I’m talking about after his belly of a whale experience…

Dude spends 3 days in the belly of a whale, then gets barfed up onto dry land.

We can assume he showered. Jonah probably swung by Costco for a 6-pack of Axe body spray too.

But still.

Ew that smell.

Have you ever had a smell get into your skin?

Campfire. Starbucks. Garlic. Dairy. Grease. Animal hospital (I worked at one, so I know).

I’m convinced Jonah still smelled like the dumpster at a fish cannery for days, maybe even weeks or months, later.

I mean, Jonah was soaking in this hot nasty goo like some kind of extended spa treatment for 3 days.

Whales are known to puke up a substance called ambergris.

What’s that? According to Wikipedia…

“Ambergris is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish color produced in the digestive system of and regurgitated or defecated by whales. Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor. The principal historical use of ambergris was as a fixative in perfumery.”

Did you catch that? This substance (which smells like fish poo) was used as a fixative in perfumery—which means it increased the permanence or stick-to-itivenes of perfume.

Jonah got barfed up like a piece of ambergris.

Heck, he was likely barfed up along with some ambergris.

And his odor had staying power.

When Jonah finally went to share God’s message with the people of Nineveh, he smelled.

When he had a temper tantrum over God’s grace being extended to the Ninevites, he smelled.

That odor should have been a constant reminder to Jonah of his own sin and need of God’s grace.

The high-and-mighty prophet who thought he knew best what God should do and what others deserved needed to take a whiff of himself.

Here’s what Jesus had to say about taking a whiff of yourself…

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. (Matthew 7.1-5 MSG)

Here’s the bottom line: we’re all carrying the stink of sin.

Don’t ever forget it.

The moment you start getting all judgy with someone else—it’s time to take a whiff of yourself.

Just when you think that group doesn’t deserve a second chance—it’s time to take a whiff of yourself.

Feeling like “those people” have have no place in God’s kingdom?

You guessed it…

It’s time to take a whiff of yourself.

Picture three people standing side by side.

Left-to-right, those people are all you… Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Your Yesterday touches (affects, influences, determines) your Today.

Today you maybe be dealing with the costs and consequences of your Yesterday.

However, your Yesterday ONLY touches your Today.

Your Yesterday DOES NOT touch your Tomorrow.

Only your Today touches your Tomorrow.

What you do Today affects, influences, and determines your Tomorrow.

Your decisions Today will shape your Tomorrow.

What happened Yesterday will not control your Tomorrow—only Today can do that.

There is nothing in your your past—in your Yesterday, big enough or bad enough or strong enough to control your destiny—your Tomorrow.

Today is a new day.

And Today shapes your Tomorrow.

You have the opportunity Today to write a new chapter and take your story in a new direction.

Do it.

The cocoon phase of a caterpillar’s life seems a bit like a “belly of a whale” experience to me.

And by “coocoon phase” or time in the “belly of a whale,” I’m really talking about those uncomfortable seasons where we find ourselves in that “in between” spot….

Not where we used to be, and not where we’re going to be.

It’s a time of limits and waiting.

You ever been there?

I have.

Belly of a whale experiences ought to be transforming.

They indicate that change is necessary.

One chapter of life is closing so another can be written.

The old ways and the old me need to be put down—so the new ways and the new me can emerge.

Cocoon-like, or belly of a whale experiences, motivate us to dream again.

And we shouldn’t dream of a nicely remodeled or updated cocoon.

We should be thinking about what’s next and how it will be different.

The point isn’t to settle down and make a cozy life in the belly of a whale.

We need a larger perspective, a God-given vision and agenda for our lives.

We need to ask the question…

God, what do you want to do in my life?

“Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new…” (Galatians 6.15 MSG)

Don’t remodel the cocoon.

It’s time to write a new chapter.

There is a generation coming up behind us—and we have the opportunity to set them up for success.

We can play a part in shaping their path for a better tomorrow…

Or we can load them down with our pain, frustration, cynicism, and sorrows.

In Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation, he shares inspiring stories of the Builder Generation—but also communicates a less inspiring message: today’s generation just doesn’t have it.

We can’t go back—there’s no time machine.

We’re here. Today.

Maybe we need to dream again for those who are coming up. Perhaps we could build them up with our belief in them instead of loading them down with our critiques of them.

There’s a story in the Bible about Jacob and his family finally moving home after being away for many years. His wife Rachel, who was pregnant at the time, went into labor while they were traveling.

Rachel went into labor—hard, hard labor. When her labor pains were at their worst, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid—you have another boy.” With her last breath, for she was now dying, she named him Ben Oni (Son-of-my-Pain), but his father named him Benjamin (Son-of-Good-Fortune). (Genesis 35.16-18 MSG)

Rachel was the love of Jacob’s life.

Jacob, in his loss, was grieving and in much pain.

Even though he could have resented his child for “causing” his wife’s death, he didn’t.

Even though he could have left the child with Rachel’s label, “Son-of-my-Pain,” he didn’t.

He renamed him Benjamin—Son of Good Fortune.

Jacob dreamed again…

Not just for himself, but for another—who was coming up behind him.

I wonder, will we be like Rachel or will we be like Jacob?

Will we label those who are coming up with our pain, frustration, cynicism, and sorrows?

Like Rachel, will we label the upcoming generation, “disappointing, lazy, selfish, stupid, and pain-causing”?

Or will we be like Jacob, calling those who are coming up, “sons and daughters of good fortune, our pride and joy, our hope for the future”?

I pray we will be like Jacob, and dream again for those who are coming up.

Jonah was unwilling to dream again—He didn’t want to see the world the way God did.

Jonah chose to hold on to his own old dream of the way things should be.

God’s plan carried on anyway…

An entire city received the grace of God.

And Jonah was angry.

He just couldn’t picture how any of this was good.

Over the past 5 years as the lead pastor at NWLife Church, many people have come and many people have gone.

Reflecting on those who left, there is an obvious trend…

They were unwilling to dream again.

They chose to hold on to an old dream of the way things should be.

Here are some of their reasons for leaving:

• I want a King James only church.
• I want a church that promotes homeschooling.
• I want a church where no hats are allowed in the sanctuary.
• I can’t deal with a pastor who wears jeans in church.
• It’s not spiritual enough for me.
• I don’t like the stage lights.
• I want to twirl, dance, and shake during worship.
• I want end-times prophecy teaching at least 1 out of 4 Sundays.
• I want a church that gives solemn warnings about impending doom and God’s judgment of America.
• I don’t like the music here / the music is too loud here.
• I want a church that brings back the Jewish law.
• I want a church that has a political agenda and passes petitions around.
• I just can’t picture myself having a bald pastor.

Yup, someone actually told me, “I just can’t picture myself having a bald pastor”.

What were they really saying?

“I’m unwilling to dream again.”

I can’t help it that I’m bald. God made me that way.

I’m 100% convinced that it was God’s plan for us to come lead the church.

And I’m convinced God has a plan for our church and for our city.

We need people who are willing to dream again.

We need people who are willing to ask…

God, what do you want to do in my life?

God, what do you want to do in my city?

God, what do you want to do in my church?

Let’s be people who dream again.

When we find ourselves in an uncomfortable or difficult place, it’s time to dream again.

Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of a whale. Unfortunately, he emerged from the whale with the same world-view / vision / perspective he had when he was swallowed by the whale. His dislike for “those people” kept him from wanting to be part of God’s plan to deliver grace and salvation to them.

Rather than coming through his “belly of a whale” experience with a fresh perspective and a clear vision from God, Jonah saw the world the same old way.

Jonah didn’t see himself as privileged to be part of God’s dream for the city because Jonah was holding on to his own old dream of the way things should be.

Basically, in life, we can do things our way or God’s way.

Another Bible character, Moses, had a dream to see his people delivered from Egypt. He tried things his way—ended up killing a guy, and living in exile for 40 years.

Then God said (I’m paraphrasing), It’s time to dream again. Are you ready to be part of my dream for you and these people? Are you ready to do things my way?

Psalm 127.1 says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.”

I believe we could apply this concept to our dreams as well…

Unless the Lord gives the dream, the dreamer will constantly be frustrated.

Jonah held on to his old dream.

But it was time to dream again.

Maybe it’s time for us to dream again too, asking God…

What do you want to do in my life?

What do you want to do in my city?

What do you want to do in my church?

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us…” (Ephesians 3.20 MSG)

I believe it’s time to dream again.