Walk The Plank

Through the story of Jonah, we're challenged to examine the guilt we carry—not just from our past sins, but from our present failures and our tendency to presume upon God's grace. The sermon reveals how we often flee from God's calling like Jonah did, boarding ships headed in the opposite direction of obedience. Yet even more convicting is how we sometimes care more about convenient ministry opportunities right in front of us than the difficult assignments God actually gives us. The central revelation comes through John Bunyan's allegory: we were never meant to carry the backpack of guilt and shame. When Christian reaches the cross on that hill, the straps break and the burden tumbles into an empty grave—a beautiful picture of what Christ accomplished for us. The pathway to freedom is clear: recognize God's reverence, confess our sins according to 1 John 1:9, repent genuinely, and walk in the freedom Christ purchased. We're reminded that guilt is the fog that clouds the vision of glory in our lives, and that we can't live in the fullness and power God intends when we're dragging around burdens Christ already removed. The call is urgent: stop packing a backpack Christ emptied, stop digging in graves He sealed, and start living as the free children of God we truly are.