“He Paid The Fare” – 2/5/25
How often has it happened to you that you read a passage, chapter, or even book of the Bible for the “nth” time and, in so doing, run across a statement you have never seen before? That phrase has been in there, but for some reason, it had not “clicked” until this time. I suppose we all can say this. In a recent reading of the book of Jonah, a prophet who God called to deliver a message to the city of Nineveh but initially chose to flee from God, I saw “he paid the fare” as if for the first time. Why had this phrase never jumped out at me before? The statement opens up many thoughts and lessons.
After Jonah decided to run away from God, Jonah 1:3 says he went to Joppa (from Gath-Hepher?), found a ship going to Tarshish, and then “paid the fare.” He made sure he had the money ahead of time and thus paid for his passage aboard the ship. Paying the fare means he did this with a clear mind. He determined, “I will not do what God said.”
Do we know of others who sinned like this? More to the point, have you ever sinned like this? The Bible says that “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (Jas. 1:14). These lusts used to tempt man include the lusts of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life (I Jn. 2:15-17). What temptations have enticed you to “pay the fare” so you can sin?
Was it pornography? Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry. Many are “paying the fare,” are they not? Are you doing the same? The Bible says that a man who lusts for a woman has committed adultery already in his heart (Matt. 5:28). The Bible also says adultery will keep you out of Heaven (I Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21). We need to be like Job, who made a covenant with his eyes concerning such sins (Job 31:1). This means that Job made a solemn promise to himself and to God to avoid looking at anything that would lead him to sin. Have you done so?
Was it gambling? Folks often “pay the fare” to gamble their money. When we boil this down, gambling is nothing more than stealing by consent! The Bible tells us not to steal (Eph. 4:28; Rom. 13:9). Yet, how often men gamble, agreeing to let someone steal their money, sometimes significant amounts of money that could have been used to buy groceries or make a house payment. Now it is gone. Friends, remember that casinos, state lotteries, and such are not in business because they are losing!
Was it alcohol? Many have wasted their money because of their drinking. They “paid the fare,” got drunk, and lost more than brain cells as a result. Many have lost money, marriages, children, jobs, and much more because they would not listen to the Lord, who said, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Prov. 20:1). They did not heed the wise man’s warning and not even look on the wine (Prov. 23:31)! They did not apply the words of the apostle who warned against drinking alcohol in any form (I Pet. 4:3). Yes, when we are determined to go against the words of God, we will “pay the fare”!
Like Jonah, when we are determined to sin, we will pay! Paul wrote, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Jonah had “paid the fare,” and as we read the rest of the book of Jonah, he will reap the consequences! The consequences of sin are not to be taken lightly; they are real and severe, and they will not be avoided.
Someone said that sin takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs you more than you want to pay. That is an accurate description, for truly whatever “fare” Jonah spent that day, he would pay much more before he was finally free!
Take a moment and consider your life, friend. Are you acting like Jonah? Now is the time to repent (Heb. 3:7-8; II Cor. 6:2). Now is the time to get right with God. Don’t keep paying the “fare”! “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14)! The time for repentance is now, not later. Repent, be baptized, and have your sins forgiven before it is too late (Acts 2:38)!
– Jarrod M. Jacobs