Jonah 2:3
Chuck Smith warns against the dangers of lying vanities and encourages listeners to submit to God for a life of happiness and mercy.
Chuck Smith discusses the concept of 'lying vanities' that lead people away from God's call, using Jonah's attempt to flee from his divine mission as a primary example. He emphasizes that true happiness cannot be found in the pursuit of worldly desires or by resisting God's will, as these are deceptive paths that ultimately lead to misery. Smith warns against the belief that one can find God on their own terms or that the Word of God is irrelevant to them, highlighting the danger of being deceived by Satan. He concludes by urging listeners to submit to God, as resisting Him only leads to forsaking their own mercy and well-being.
Text
"LYING VANITIES"
I. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LYING VANITIES MEN OBSERVE?
A. With Jonah, he thought he could run away from the call of God.
1. Tarshish the last outpost of the then known world.
2. Opposite direction from Nineveh.
3. You can't run from God.
B. Happiness can be discovered by direct pursuit.
1. If I just had that.
2. If I could just live there.
3. If I could only do that.
4. We see man's vain quest for happiness.
5. Happiness is a by-product.
C. That you can strive with God and win.
1. We watch people fight with God.
a. They're going to pit their intelligence against
His.
b. So deceived they think they have won the point.
2. God has been calling you to surrender your life to him.
a. You fight and resist.
b. What if you are successful?
c. All who have been able to successfully resist
the call of God now in hell.
D. That you can find God your own way.
1. All roads lead to God.
2. You don't need Jesus Christ.
3. We see their vain search.
4. We sometimes see counterfeit results.
E. That the Word of God doesn't apply to your case.
1. You have some kind of special dispensation.
II. WHY WOULD SOME PEOPLE OBSERVE A LYING VANITY?
A. Satan is a master deceiver.
1. He will give them initial success.
a. Moments of pleasure to draw them.
b. He uses his deadly opiate to blind.
2. Watching spider and fly.
III. THE RESULT, "THEY FORSAKE THEIR OWN MERCY."
A. They make it tough on themselves.
1. Jonah describes his misery in the fish.
2. Like quicksand the more you struggle the deeper you
sink.
B. When you run from God you run from your own good.
1. God wants to display His mercy.
2. People think God wants to wipe them out negative, that
is a lying vanity.
a. Fathers story of early childhood.
C. When you fight against God you fight your own good.
1. God loves you and desires to inaugurate His plan of
love in your life.
IV. DON'T FOLLOW LYING VANITIES.
A. Make it easy on yourself.
B. Submit to God and enjoy the good life.
Sermon Outline
- What are some of the lying vanities men observe? points: - Running away from God's call - Pursuing happiness through direct means - Striving against God and winning - Finding God through one's own way - Believing the Word of God doesn't apply
- Why would some people observe a lying vanity? points: - Satan's deception and initial success
- The result of observing lying vanities points: - Forsaking one's own mercy - Running from one's own good - Fighting against one's own good
- Don't follow lying vanities points: - Make it easy on yourself - Submit to God and enjoy the good life
Key Quotes
“You can't run from God.” — Chuck Smith
“Happiness is a by-product.” — Chuck Smith
“God wants to display His mercy.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Make it easy on yourself by submitting to God.
- Don't run from God's call, but rather surrender to Him.
- God wants to display His mercy in your life, so don't forsake it.