I can’t turn back now!!!
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay, your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17 NIV)
The Bible tells us that because of famine in the land of Bethlehem of Judea, Elimelech took his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion and went to settle in the land of Moab. Some time later Elimelech died. The two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but they too died leaving Naomi and her daughter-in-laws. Naomi was later to learn that the famine had ended in Bethlehem and as she started to make her way back, she was followed by her daughter-in-laws. Naomi, urged them to return to their mothers and after some persuasion, Orpah turned back but Ruth vehemently refused to turn back and insisted on going with Naomi.
Friend, I put it to you that although she was of pagan background, Ruth had lived long enough in the household of Elimelech and Naomi to know that there was something about the God they served. Ruth had seen and experienced what it was like to serve the one true God. She had watched the lives of these people and witnessed how their God answered their prayer, saw them through trials and provided for them in their time of need. She had heard them recount stories of how their God had delivered their forefathers from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. She had come to accept this God and believe in Him and she knew that even though she could not see the way ahead right now, somehow, He would see her through so she decided to take the risk. She took a step of faith and went with Naomi and it certainly paid off.
We see the twelve disciples taking a similar risk. The Bible tells us that the Lord had been teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum and because of the things He said some of those who had followed Him up until then turned away. Jesus then turned to the remaining twelve disciples, “You do not want to leave me too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:7-69 NIV). The Twelve too decided to take a step of faith and follow Jesus rather than turn back. Even though they suffered many things, for the eleven who stuck it through, it was worth it.
We too are called to take “steps” of faith. Our first step was when we accepted Jesus into our heart. That was just the beginning because as Believers we are called to a continuous walk of faith which is mandatory because the Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Friend, the very fact that we have chosen to walk this walk, has made the enemy unhappy, so he will do anything and everything to try to make us turn back. He will try to discourage us and say it is not worth our while. But the devil is a liar. It is worth our while and we shall keep walking this walk and finish the race.
Friend, we can’t turn back now!!
Prayer:
Lord, without your strength we cannot walk this walk. We ask you to help us. May we be quick to discern the tricks of the enemy to try to derail us from the path that you have chosen for us. Make us quick to return to the right road so that at the end of it all we may receive the crown of glory. We thank you and bless you in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen and Amen.
