It Is Decision That Determines Destiny
March 11, 2015 Save Article"
Ruth 1:1-18 (Program: 0914, Air date: 3.2.2014)
- INTRODUCTION
- The book of Ruth was written during difficult days; there was apostasy, anarchy and famine in the land.
- Judges 21:25
- The book of Ruth is bright hope for dark days.
- The story of Ruth is a redemptive story: Ruth is an Old Testament picture of the church, while Boaz is a picture of our Kinsman Redeemer, the Lord Jesus.
- If we find ourselves in a time of darkness, trouble or despair, then Jesus Christ will be to us what Boaz was to Ruth.
- The first chapter of Ruth tells of choices made and their consequences.
- The book of Ruth was written during difficult days; there was apostasy, anarchy and famine in the land.
- THE PRINCIPLE OF A WILLING CHOICE (Ruth 1:1-2)
- We are free to choose.
- God sets before us today the same choice that was before Elimelech: the choice between life and death, blessing and cursing.
- Deuteronomy 30:19
- God desires us to choose life.
- We are not free not to choose.
- We always make a choice.
- Some say that they will not say yes or no to Jesus; that they simply will not make a decision about Jesus. But that in itself is a decision: to choose not to say yes to Jesus is to say no to Christ.
- Matthew 12:30
- Luke 11:23
- We are not free to choose the consequences of our choice.
- We first make our choice, and then our choice chooses for us.
- Our choices inevitably bring consequences into our lives and into the lives of those close to us.
- The biggest decision we will ever make is to say yes to Jesus as Lord.
- We are free to choose.
- THE PROBLEMS OF A WRONG CHOICE
- Elimelech made a wrong choice when he decided to go into the land of Moab.
- The Moabites were enemies of Israel.
- Moab was a cursed land and a pagan nation.
- Elimelech made a wrong choice due to three basic reasons:
- He had a wrong motive.
- Ruth 1:1
- He was motivated by physical reasons, not spiritual reasons. He placed the physical above the spiritual.
- Psalm 37:25
- Matthew 6:33
- Oftentimes, our priorities are out of order: we love things and try to use God rather than loving God and using things.
- He had a wrong method.
- Elimelech walked by sight, not by faith.
- Faith is believing God in spite of appearances and obeying God in spite of consequences.
- In Psalm 55:6, the Psalmist describes a desire to run away from problematic circumstances; but God desires to give us the wings of an eagle to mount up over our problems.
- Isaiah 40:31
- He had the wrong master.
- When Elimelech went over into Moab, he went into enemy territory.
- The Moabites had been enemies of God.
- The Moabites had invaded Israel and ruled over Israel for 18 years.
- God had placed a curse upon the Moabites.
- When we live in disbelief and disobedience, we dishonor God and we move into the enemy’s territory.
- When Elimelech went over into Moab, he went into enemy territory.
- He had a wrong motive.
- Elimelech’s choice brought consequences:
- It brought death.
- Ruth 1:3-5
- It brought deprivation.
- Elimelech wanted to be blessed.
- It brought death.
- Elimelech made a wrong choice when he decided to go into the land of Moab.
- THE POWER OF A WISE CHOICE (Ruth 1:7-18)
- Ruth decided to go with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem.
- Ruth’s decision changed the course of her life.
- Ruth had previously lived a cursed life.
- Deuteronomy 3:23
- Ephesians 2:12
- Ruth had lived a crushed life.
- She had known poverty and deprivation.
- She had lost her husband and father-in-law.
- Ruth had a condemned life.
- Because her husband had died, she had a sentence of death upon her.
- Like Ruth, we have a sentence of death upon us because Adam, the head of the human race, died; and in Adam, we all die.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Ruth had previously lived a cursed life.
- When Ruth decided to stay with Naomi and serve the living God, all things became new.
- Ruth 1:16-17
- There was a new determination.
- There was a new direction.
- There was a new dependence.
- There was a new desire.
- There was a new devotion.
- There was a new dedication.
- There was a new destiny.
- When we choose Christ, we too have a new destiny.
- Romans 8:38-39
- CONCLUSION
- Ruth’s decision to go to Bethlehem and follow the Lord God changed her life. God made all things new for Ruth, and she became an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- When we choose to follow Jesus Christ, He makes all things new for us.
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