Apr 10, 2011 ... this world are intended to make their life absolutely, positively miserably (well yea
, ... their life is totally ruined when tomorrow has not yet come?
An Absolutely, Positively, Miserable Life Ruth 1:1-21
By Pastor Greg April 10, 2011
Bunkertown COB
Bruce Nolan’s life was falling apart. At the television station, he didn’t get the promotion he had desired. He felt his talent was being wasted. On the day he was fired, he was beat up because he tried to rescue a homeless man from a group of thugs. His car was scratched. Yes, Bruce’s life was a mess. And he was convinced that God was setting around looking for ways to make his life absolutely, positively miserable. What’s sad is that Bruce’s attitude seems normal to most of us. Life is one big disappointment after another. Some people seem to think that all the problems in this world are intended to make their life absolutely, positively miserably (well yea, Pendot was setting around the other day thinking of ways to make your morning commute a nightmare). Sometimes even God is blamed. Looking at the lousy circumstances in life, they conclude that He has made life sour and unpleasant; He has made their life absolutely, positively miserable. But what I can’t figure is why a person would do this. How could someone be absolutely positive that the rest of their life is totally ruined when tomorrow has not yet come? This isn’t about being naïve to all the circumstances we might face. It has nothing to do with being optimistic. It’s not some “glass–half-full”, motivational speech thing. It all boils down to faith; a faith that understands God is still working out His plan even though circumstances might say otherwise. Consider the life of poor Naomi. She lost an awful lot, and she was absolutely positive that she would be miserable the rest of her life. And of course, God got all the blame. (Read Ruth 1:1-21). Do you hear her words? Considering her present circumstances, she concludes that the Lord has raised His fist against her. With a look of despair on her face, Naomi has concluded that misery will follow her all the days of her life. She is bitter. Life has lost its sweetness. But when I read Naomi’s words, I want to crawl into the pages of the Bible and scream at this woman. Why are you being so 1
miserable? Why are you so negative? My word woman, you don’t even know the rest of the story! I want to tell her that in a few days she’s going to have a basket load of food; that her daughter-in-law is going to meet a wonderful man willing to redeem the family name. I want to tell her that in a couple of months Ruth and Boaz will have a little baby boy named Obed who Naomi will raise as her very own. I want to tell this woman, who is shaking her fist at God, that because of Boaz, the family farm will not be lost. I want to tell her that Ruth’s great grandson David will one day be King of Israel. I want to tell her that the little parcel of land that Boaz redeemed just outside of Bethlehem would one day become the place where Jesus would be born. I wish there was someway I could shout back through history and tell this woman to not despair; that God is not against her but rather God is orchestrating events that hold a glorious future! I wish I could, but I can’t. What I can do, though, is to learn from her life and allow the events in her life to teach me a valuable lesson. And the lesson is that none of us should ever be absolutely positively certain about what tomorrow will bring. Although our present circumstances may not be the greatest today, we have no idea what tomorrow may bring. Speaking to those who worry, Jesus asks, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” 1 (Matthew 6:27). The only One who knows what tomorrow will bring is God because tomorrow is already in His hands. Now I’m not going to tell you that your tomorrow will be all glorious. I’m not going to tell you that you’ll see peace and prosperity in the coming days. That’s not the point here. The point is that worry and misery should not rule our lives. “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” 2 (Matthew 6:32). A Christian’s life should not be defined by these things. That’s why Jesus asks “Why do you have so little faith”? (Matthew 6:30b). To live with fear and despair is to live without faith. God was not against Naomi. He was working through her for a future glory and a future hope. And neither is God working against you. But if the circumstances you are facing seem to make you think otherwise; to make you
1
Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
2
2
absolutely, positively certain that all hope is lost, pick up your Bible and take a healthy dose of Romans 8. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 (Romans 8:2839) This much is true; let circumstances rule your life and you are sure to have an absolutely, positively, miserable life. I know that some people point to the signs and preach doom and gloom, but even they do not know what God has in store for those whom He loves. This is the lesson to be learned from Naomi’s lament, and the encouragement to be found from Paul, a man who suffered greatly in this life yet embraced faith. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”. 4 (Romans 8:18) My friend, whatever the circumstances you may be facing right now, chose faith over despair. Only God knows what tomorrow might bring.
3
New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ro 8:28-39). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ro 8:18). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
4
3
