Saints of God have you kept the faith in the times of adversity or did you crumble at the first signs of bleakness. In the Bible we have many examples of people who overcome their situations in life. Today I would like to talk about one of my favorite examples of faith in the story of Naomi and Ruth. These two women stayed the course even when things started to look bleak. We have to watch what way we say and think because doubt can start to erode our faith in God. Naomi started to say bad things about her life because she lost her husband and 2 sons, and she got bitter about her life; she had to sell her husband's land and finally, she wanted to change her name from Naomi to Mara because she felt the Lord made her life bitter. The reason I thought about this topic about faith is that when we lose faith in God we start to lose our mind and we want to be alone and that's when the devil starts to attack us because we have nobody to support with our lives and reason our thought life. That's when life can be dangerous for us and others; that's when people do drastic things in life steal, kill, scheme, drugs, alcohol, or commit suicide just some examples in life that can happen to us if we let our faith slip from trusting God and turn away from him. But in this story, I am so glad our Lord and Savior did not let Naomi kick Ruth out of her life, for God knew he had a plan for them even though Naomi did not see it yet. When we stay loyal and faithful to God, he can do all things for us. He gives us favor with people here on earth to help us out in our situations in life. Have you had situations in life that people came out of nowhere to give you aid or assistance when you needed it most? That was God working on our behalf. Ruth did not leave Naomi, her husband's mother; she was young and could start her life over but she stayed with her when Naomi wanted her to go. Ruth gave up everything to stay with her country, her gods, to be with Naomi and her God and to go to a strange land she did not know about. But saints of God, that's what faith is all about; we don't know where it will lead us, but if it is God leading us, everything will be alright for our good for those who trust and love the Lord. Ruth worked in the fields of her eventual husband Boaz because of her faith to her mother-in-law and God. God's favor started to show Naomi that the Lord is still in control and providing for her through Ruth gathering food to eat. Ruth had a good report with men in her city so Boaz allowed her to gather grains in his field because he heard about her life and how faithful she was to Naomi. When we stay faithful to God, saints, his favor in your life makes men do things for your life you can't imagine. So what I am saying today, faith will make you safe and secure in God's hand. Faith will make you change your doubts in life to confidence and assurance; God will take care of you even when the sour things in life leave a bad taste in your mouth,
faith in God can change the bad to good, the poor to wealthy, the sick to healthy and the unmarried to married just a few examples in life what faith in God can do for us if we hold on to our faith it changes things. Ruth's faith in Naomi's God changed her life for the good when she got married. And her husband Boaz became a redeemer in two ways (1) he married Ruth and preserved the name of Elimelech, Naomi's deceased husband and the firstborn son of Boaz and Ruth was considered a son of Elimelech's line (2) Boaz redeemed the family land that Naomi had sold and restored it to Elimelech's line. Boaz is an OT type of Jesus Christ whom likewise redeems the believer in two ways (1) Christ has purchased us by his own blood and thereby keeps our lives and names from perishing in sin (John 3:16 and 1 Peter 1:18-19) and (2) he includes us as the redeemed in his eternal inheritance in the new heaven and earth. In conclusion, saints of God, don't leave your faith too early in the game; play all 4 quarters of the game and even overtime to get the results God has waiting for you in life; your faith will make you whole again. Amen.
