|
LORD I AM COMING HOME--Ruth 1:19-22
|
An old farmer, so the story goes, concluded one day that the oats
he had fed his mule for years were simply costing him too much. So he hatched a plan: he mixed a little sawdust in with the
feed, and then a little more the next day, and even more the next, each time reducing the amount of oats in the mix. The
mule didn't seem to notice the gradual change, so the farmer thought things were fine and kept decreasing the proportion of
oats. But weeks later, on the day he finally fed the poor beast nothing but sawdust, the mule finished the meal and fell over
dead.
|
A Member of the Methodist church, William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921) often led the music during Camp
Meeting services. During one particular revival, Kirkpatrick noticed that one of his soloists always left after the music
ended; never participating in the prayer time, or staying to listen to the sermon. Kirkpatrick grew burdened for this young
man and began to pray for him. One night, in response to his prayers, a song began to form in Kirkpatrick's mind. He quickly
jotted down the words, added a melody, and then asked the young man to sing the new composition during the following evening's
service.The next night, while singing the new song Lord I'm Coming Home, the soloist was so moved by the melody and
lyrics that he stayed for the sermon and then went forward at the altar call to accept Jesus as his Savior!
I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve
trod,
Lord, I’m coming home. - Refrain:
Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam;
Open wide
Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.
- I’ve wasted many precious years,
Now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter
tears,
Lord, I’m coming home. - I’m
tired of sin and straying, Lord,
Now I’m coming home;
I’ll trust Thy love, believe Thy word,
Lord,
I’m coming home. - My soul is sick, my
heart is sore,
Now I’m coming home;
My strength renew, my home restore,
Lord, I’m coming home. - My only hope, my only plea,
Now I’m coming home;
That Jesus died,
and died for me,
Lord, I’m coming home. - I
need His cleansing blood I know,
Now I’m coming home;
Oh, wash me whiter than the snow,
Lord, I’m
coming home.
|
|
Though we know our souls cannot
survive on spiritual sawdust, we may well convince ourselves that a little won't hurt too much, and a little less real spiritual
food won't be missed. Then, over time, the proportion of sawdust increases while the oats gradually disappear. Before long,
the change is complete, and our starved, sawdust-stuffed spiritual life has collapsed. Surely this is how Naomi found herself in Moab with a dead husband and two dead sons.
She never meant for it to happen, but one day she woke up to find that she was miles away from where the Lord wanted her to
be. This passage is all about how Naomi found her way home to Bethlehem and to the place of blessing.
The
trip from Moab to Bethlehem would have taken between 7-10 days. It would have required them to cross the river Jordan and
to climb the 2000 plus feet in elevation required to reach Bethlehem. It would have been easy to stop short of the city, but
they continued until they were where they were supposed to be!
Repentance is the same way! Don't stop until you have come all the way back!) (Note:
There is no record of their conversation as they traveled. This reminds us that a person's repentance is a private matter.
It is between them and the Lord and we cannot judge their condition by what they do or by what they don't do!)
Bethlehem was the place where the Lord was honored and exalted. There was no praise in Naomi's heart when she was in Moab. That
child of God who is away from the Father's house cannot have a heart of praise, nor can their life be honoring to the Lord! (Ruth 1:6) God had visited
His people in Bethlehem. While Naomi was in Moab, she was away from the Lord's presence! When a saint is away from the Lord's
will, he cannot enjoy the presence of God! ( Jonah - Jonah 1:3) When a believer returns, he can once again enjoy the blessed presence of the
Lord, Psa. 16:11. It was in the city of Bethlehem that Naomi would find the best of God's provisions. It was
there where she could be fed! So it is with the saint. God's best blessings are reserved for those who will stay close to
where He is working! She
returned to a place of kindred spirits and like-minded people. In Moab she was different! In Bethlehem, she belonged! So it is with the wayward child of God! Can you think
of those who have wandered away from the place where God meets with His people? Thank God, they (or you) can come home again!
Naomi's return to Bethlehem alone, broke and in the company
of a Gentile made news all over town! She then Spoke Of God's Providence - "The
LORD hath brought me home again." She told of how the Lord worked to bring her home. I wonder how many times
she had to tell of the death of her husband and her sons? (Note: It was still home!
Ill. "I will return to my father's house.", Luke 15.) (You can run from the Lord,
but you cannot hide - Jonah!) in V. 20-21 She Spoke Of God's Punishment -
"Hath testified; hath afflicted" She seems to blame all this on the Lord, but it was all the
result of her own choices! (Note: Her words revel her heart, "I went out...")
(Note: "Naomi" = "Pleasant"; "Mara"
= "Bitter") (Note: Evidently, Elimelech was a wealthy man when he left
Bethlehem for Moab, v. 21 She left full and returned home empty. The Lord will fill you up, but the plan of the
devil is to empty you out!) (Note: God knows how to get our attention!
In vs. 21 She Spoke Of God's Patience - She brought about her own troubles, but the Lord worked
hard in her life to bring her home! Why her and not Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion? Perhaps his heart was fixed, but Naomi's
was still teachable, she had not allowed her heart to be hardened. (A Seared Conscious - 1 Tim.
4:2.) (Note: Thank God for His patience in our lives!)
The time of barley harvest was also the time of
Passover. A time to shed the blood of the lamb and commemorate the deliverance of God's people from sin, Ex. 12.
It is a picture of coming home through the blood, 1 John 1:7-10. Thank God,the blood of the Lamb is sufficient
to take care of the sins of the wayward saint! It Was ALSO A Time Of Bounty - This
was also the time of the Feast of the Firstfruits, Lev. 23:1-14. A time when the first
of the barley harvest was offered in a wave offering before the Lord as an of gratitude for the harvest that was about to
be reaped. When the priest made the wave offering, he was saying, "This is just the first, there is more in
the way!" (Note: Jesus is presented as the "Firstfruits from the dead" in
the New Testament, 1 Cor. 15:20; 23!) (Note: It is always a time of harvest when a wandering
child returns home!) (The Prodigal Son!). It Was again A Time Of Beginning
- Naomi wanted her name to be changed to "Mara." But, when the Holy Spirit mentions her in
verse 22, He calls her "Naomi". She may have been "bitter"
in heart, but the Lord had some "pleasant" blessings ahead for this woman.
(Note: "Is this
Naomi?" The people of Bethlehem were amazed at her appearance and problems, (ISin brings along
trouble!) but the Lord was about to give her blessings and glories that she could not have been imagined! While
people may mourn over the troubles of the sinner, but there is joy in heaven over a repentant sinner, Luke 15:7.)Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ told the story of
a boy who left his father's house to find fun and adventure in the world. When he had lost everything he owned and wound up
in a place he never thought he would be, he decided to go home. What he found was a father ready to forgive him, love him
and restore him to a place of perfect fellowship and blessing. Is that what you need today? If so, then what you need is just
steps away. Will you come? Come home. Tell the Lord…. LORD IAM COMING HOME
|
|
