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I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
And Ruth said, Entreat 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: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. Ruth 1:16-17.
The story of Ruth is perhaps the loveliest story in the Bible. As lovely as it is, it is preceded by much sorrow and heartbreak.
A man named Elimelech foolishly leads his family from their home in Israel into the land of Moab. This was sinful behavior. The whole family was in a backslidden condition. Elimelech dies soon after arriving in Moab leaving his wife Naomi a widow.
Elimelech’s two sons marry two of the women of Moab. After about ten years the two sons die. Now there are three widows.
Naomi has learned that God was blessing the land of Israel, and decides to return. Naomi urges her two daughters-in-law to return to their own families and gods, and to remain in the land of Moab. One of the daughters-in-law, Orpah, agrees to stay in Moab. The other, Ruth, insists on returning to Israel with Naomi.
Ruth’s decision gives us a beautiful picture of a newly saved person who has honestly decided to follow Jesus; to be that new creature in Christ the Bible speaks about.
It is not hard to be saved. It is the easiest thing in the world. As someone has said, "You provide the sinner, God provides the Saviour." As simple as it is, it is also the most important decision anyone will ever make.
If I told you I was going to join the Army but did not plan to follow orders you would think I was crazy. When someone signs on to military life, it is understood that things will be radically different. I heard the story of two new recruits. After the first day of marching, pushups and endless orders, one recruit said to the other, "If they treat us this way, imagine what they do to the enemy!"
I remember speaking with a nice looking young man in our local jail. He was married and had a son. He professed to be a Christian, but explained at great length about the gang he was actively affiliated with. "We have bylaws that we follow. If they (the gang leaders) gave me word to take out the next officer that came through that door I would do it in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t need to know why. That they wanted it to happen would be enough of a reason for me."
When I left, I remember thinking wouldn’t it be great if Christians had the same dedication for the cause of Christ as this man does for his gang.
Perhaps you are not a Christian, but you realize something is missing in your life. The last thing I want to do is to scare you off from being saved, but you do need to know that there is more to being a Christian than repeating the sinner’s prayer. If you are already saved, perhaps as you read this sermon you will realize there are some changes you need to make and some decisions you need to make.
Our text comes from Ruth 1:16-17 and we will go to other verses in this book to prove or make our point clear. First we see Ruth take a new direction. She says, "Whither thou goest, I will go."
In front of restaurants we sometimes see signs that read: "Under New Management." That sign means; ‘things are different now,’ ‘things have changed.’ Ruth has put herself under new leadership. Ruth is saying, "You lead, I will follow."
Oh, sinner, are you seeking victory over sin? Would you say, "Lord Jesus You lead, I will follow"? Ruth did. She was determined to stick by the stuff. Notice Ruth 1:14-15. Orpah decides to turn back to her people and she kisses Naomi goodbye. "...But Ruth clave unto her." That means she held on to her mother-in-law and wouldn’t let go. She stuck like glue. Naomi tried to talk her out of going to Israel. She told her that Orpah went back to her family and her gods, and that Ruth should do the same.
Now I don’t know why Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi after Naomi had pretty much told her to get lost, but she did. I think she stayed because she had either just gotten saved, or was in the process of getting saved.
In Ruth 3:5 we read, "And she (Ruth) said unto her (Naomi), All that thou sayest unto me I will do." This has to do with Ruth finding a new husband. Do you see her willingness to submit and her eagerness to obey? Perhaps this would be a good prayer for us to pray as we open our Bibles each day, "All that thou sayest unto me I will do."
Professing Christian, has your life taken on a new direction since you prayed to be saved? I am not trying to make you doubt your salvation, but it is far too serious a situation to ignore.
Ruth took on a new lifestyle. "Where thou lodgest, I will lodge." Some people like to give the impression that all you have to do is get saved and everything will be great. Having your eternal home settled is certainly vitally important, but there are plenty of trials and tribulations along the way.
Here is Ruth, a young widow pledging her allegiance to an older widow. In those days, there were no retirement programs, no life insurance policies, no welfare programs, no food stamps. Nothing. Work or starve. These ladies were poor.
God provided for poor people in this manner: farmers were to reap the fields once. If they dropped some or missed a little section they were to leave it behind. The corners of the fields were to be left unharvested. What the farmers missed or left behind was there for the poor people to come in and glean. Ruth would be living on leftovers! But she knew that would be better than staying in Moab.
In Ruth 2:2-3 we see that Ruth was a woman of her word. She is ready to work the fields to support herself and her mother-in-law. Ruth does not argue with God. She willingly obeys God’s program. It was not going to be easy. It was not going to be fun. It was hard physical labor.
In verse two we see that all she wanted was to end up working in a field where the owner would be pleasant to her. God worked it out that she ended up in a field owned by a relative of her mother-in-law. This man’s name was Boaz. Boaz, we learn, was a highly respected gentleman. Ruth ended up in the perfect spot.
God blessed Ruth because she was obedient. Oh, sure, she had to work hard and she had to face some problems. But since she was following God’s program she would not only reap grain; she would also reap God’s blessing. It pays to be obedient. It pays to submit yourself to God’s will. It matters not if you are a new Christian or if you have been saved for thirty years. Let God direct your life. Let God order your life style.
Ruth got a new family. She said, "Thy people shall be my people." As we read the Book of Judges we learn the Israelites had war after war with two nations. One nation was the Philistines. The other nation was the Moabites, Ruth’s nation. Ruth would not be readily accepted by many. Her customs would be different. She probably spoke with an accent. It would not be easy. Ruth even said to Boaz, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" Ruth 2:10.
Ruth realized that it would be better to be a stranger in Israel, then to be at home in Moab. How about you? Where would you be better off? In a good, godly church where you would be "the new guy," or back in your old haunts where you would be one of the good ol’ boys, lost and on your way to Hell? I think the answer is obvious.
Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26.
Now this verse deals more with discipleship than it does with salvation, but the implications are clear: you had better plan on giving Jesus first place in every area of your life. Jesus is not content with the silver medal; only the gold will do.
Oh, but is it worth it? Ruth thought so. I know so. But don’t take our word for it, listen to Jesus again; Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." Luke 18:29-30.
If Ruth wasn’t already saved, then I believe she got saved right here. Ruth got herself a new God. "Thy God (shall be) my God." She left the false gods of her people behind and took Israel’s Jehovah, the God of the Bible, as her own. Ruth readily left her religious traditions behind. She had found the real thing, there was no reason to cling to counterfeit beliefs anymore.
How sad it is to see people who apparently honestly have received Jesus Christ as their Saviour and remain in the same dead church that they have been in for years. They never heard God’s simple plan of salvation there and never would have except some outsider had taken an interest in their spiritual condition. Yes, those who are truly saved and then stay in those situations are still saved, but they will answer to God face to face some day.
Thank God Ruth knew better. She got out while the getting was good and she never bothered to look back.
Notice what Boaz says of Ruth: "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth 2:12.
Ruth found a new dedication. "Where thou diest, I will die." Ruth is saying "Naomi, I am in this all the way, even the threat of death will not deter me. I’m in for the duration. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back."
How about you friend? Is it time you started in a new direction? Wouldn’t you be better off under the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ? You probably need a new lifestyle. The end result of hard rock and dope is Hell. Is that what you want? Just how good has the devil been to you anyway?
Unfortunately, there are exceptions to the rule, but usually the new family of friends you will find in a good Bible believing church will do you more good than the best the streets have to offer.
Are you ready for the God of the Bible to receive you into His family? Just let the Lord know that you are a sinner and you know your only hope for Heaven is Jesus Christ the Saviour.
Will you pray and settle it now? There is no reason to delay any longer. If you want to settle it now, please pray this prayer, or use your own words.
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I know I deserve to go to Hell. But I know You died for me. So right now, Jesus, I ask You to come into my heart and save me from my sins. Help me to live for You and take me to Heaven when I die. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour after reading this tract, please write us. We would like to rejoice with you. lpm8998@core.com