There was an article in the paper today about a political survey that was taken asking Christians what Jesus would think about certain things if he were alive today. Everyone who took it failed right away if they didn’t say one thing. The survey said that certain percentages of people said this or that. What the survey, followed by the printing of the article, did was subconsciously plant in people’s mind that Jesus is dead. It was a roundabout way of saying that Jesus is not alive. That aside, Jesus didn’t concern himself with politics when he was here on earth. He didn’t come to be a ruler of this world. He flatly stated that his kingdom was not of this world. There are many issues that have been made into political ones when they should not be; they are moral issues. If we want to know what God thinks about them, all we need to do is open the Word of God, then pray. The truth is there about the issues that face the world and each of us today.
Society deliberately gears itself to undermine those who are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Naomi was returning home to Bethlehem from Moab, times were bad. It looked very dark ahead. It was a discouraging time. She didn’t encourage her daughters-in-law to stay with her. She wanted them to but told them they’d have an easier time if they went back to their own people. In the face of discouragement Orpah and Ruth were in the place of decision. Should they listen to the times around them? Should they give in to the bad news? Should they go back? Should they continue on even in those lean times and go to Bethlehem with Naomi?
Ruth 1: 14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
This is a timeless passage. Haven’t we needed to hear it many times? It’s a necessary passage for the current hour. The events of the world are no longer something to just watch. They are hitting home. People we know are in crisis mode. You may be yourself. If you’re not now, you will be. We all will be tested. The Bible says the hour of temptation will come upon the entire world. Christians are being strained. The Bible says Satan desires to sift us like wheat. If you think it’s not touching you now, you should be scared, for it is coming. That simply means that the subtility of how it is working is taking its toll on you and you don’t even know it. People are failing the test everywhere we turn. The true houses of God are seeing a decline across the board as many fail on an individual basis. We’re on the verge of being home. What a shame it would be to go back at this late stage of the race. Jesus is missing in the lives of many who profess to be Christians, and they don’t even know it.
It was a hard journey back to Bethlehem. There were not blue skies ahead. It was bad, but Naomi still felt the need to go back home. We need to feel that same need, the need to be closer to home, to the Lord, to the Bible, to the church, and to each other. Orpah and Ruth cleaved to Naomi for a long way. They could see the condition of the land around them; they saw it was not good. Things were bleak. Regardless of how things look around us, we need to stick with the Son of God just like they did Naomi. Just because it looks bad doesn’t mean that heaven is not there just beyond the next hill. Remember that we walk by faith not by sight. Determine to stick with Jesus regardless of what is going on around you. Prayer is not as popular as it used to be. The old Bible isn’t looked at like it once was. Prayer still works! The Bible is still good! It still takes Jesus to get to heaven. He’s the one who lifts our burdens when we pray. It may not be popular to pray and read the Bible in this day, but these are our only hope. Keep headed toward home.
Naomi had forsaken Bethlehem and had a measure of success for a season. Her sons married Moabite women. Her husband died and not too long afterward so did her two sons. The only family she had was these young women. Naomi didn’t want to force them to go with her. She knew what was ahead would take a toll on them. It does take endurance. We must overcome the devil on an individual basis day by day. We may have to go it alone sometimes. The discouraging times are upon us.
Orpah made her decision. She cared about Naomi. She cried, but she went back home. She gave up and left. Ruth knew it would be hard, but she knew that somewhere in Bethlehem was a kinsman redeemer. If she stuck with Naomi, there was hope. She found it. On his earthly lineage, Jesus would be a descendant of Ruth. She married Boaz and from them eventually came King David. Did she make the right decision? Absolutely!
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
We may see bitter times, but how this thing winds up is what is important. Road trips are hard. There are cracks and potholes to face, but once you get to the destination it’s wonderful. There will be potholes between here and heaven, but it will be worth it. In the face of discouragement, be decided for Jesus and him alone.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 