The Road Home

The Road Home

Words of Faith 1-11-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ruth 1

       [6] When she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters‑in‑law prepared to return home from there. [7] With her two daughters‑in‑law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

       Naomi was not content to sit back in defeat. When she heard that things were better back in Bethlehem, that God had come to the aid of His people, her direction was clear. She started home! Naomi left the place where had been living for a long time set out on the road that would take them home.

       This is how every journey home begins. We realize that we are not where we are supposed to be. Even if we have been there for a long time. Then, we leave the place where we have been living. We set out and follow the road home. There is no other way. We must leave the place of famine, misery, grief, and pain. Others may come along. But we must begin the journey for ourselves.

       The journey home sounds so easy and obvious. But it is amazing how often people refuse to journey home. There were Israelites who preferred slavery in Egypt to the journey that required faith in God. They had been in Egypt for 400 years, but it was not home! God was calling them home.  

         History tells us that after the devastating seventy year exile in Babylon, only a handful of Jews journeyed home to rebuild Jerusalem! Why? The truth is tend to get comfortable and settled even in places of slavery. Babylon was predictable. Somehow we feel a small sense of control in our one little corner of misery. The journey home begins with a decision the realization we are not where God wants us to be. Then we a first step toward home.

         When we refuse to start the journey home we are stuck. Sometimes we get stuck in a miserable place that we have allowed to become comfortable. Sometimes we get stuck in patterns and habits that really are enslaving us but in them we find a little bit of false safety. The Enemy of our soul loves for us to be stuck. He may even leave us alone for a while just knowing that we are stuck in Moab.

         Where are you? Have you been living in Moab? Driven there by drought or famine? Have you been stricken with grief and pain? Are you a long way from where God wants you to be? Maybe there is a decision you have been putting off for a long time like the decision to fully commit your life to Jesus? Or perhaps the decision needed is to get help in an area of your life that has been sick.

         There is no real comfort in Moab. It just looks familiar. The journey home starts today. God has come to the aid of His people. He is awaiting your return. It is time to go.

         Lord, I want to come home to You. I begin my journey by confessing my sin to You. Come into my life as Lord and Savior. I commit myself to the journey out of misery and into Your care. I am taking the first step today. In the name of Jesus. Amen.