No turnin’ back

Albert Bogle August 07, 2021 0 4

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Ruth 1: 11-18 (NRSVA)

11 But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.’ 14 Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ 16 But Ruth said,

‘Do not press me to leave you
    or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
    where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
    and your God my God.
17 Where you die, I will die—
    there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
    and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’

18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

I believe there are biblical stories in the suitcase of time that connect directly with each of our lives. To conclude this week of stories let me share my story of faith that resonates for me. It’s the story you have just read today regarding the love of a widowed daughter-in-law for her widowed mother-in-law. As a child of seven or eight it was the loyalty that Ruth had for Naomi that impressed me. But something more, the application that the Sunday school teacher made spoke to my heart. She suggested we all had choices to make in life — just like Ruth.

Her application was simple for a child to understand. We could either follow Jesus and go on a journey of faith, just like Ruth, not knowing were it might lead, or we could turn away like Orpha, Naomi’s other daughter-in-law and follow  a path we think is best for us. I remember that day choosing to follow Jesus. Somehow I was in that story, like Ruth I too wanted to be loyal, to be loyal to Jesus. Over sixty years later the story gives me a framework for the choices I make. The story has turned the course of my life and shaped the outcome of the stories of others within the story of my life.

Here I am singing about the decision I have made to follow Jesus, no turnin’ back: I Have Decided.  

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

Keep me faithful and loyal — to keep following

For there are many days when I have turned aside

Give me the courage to keep following

One step at at time — never looking back.