Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-06

but they love the world more, and SO lose
their golden opportunity for salvation.
OrDah sacrificed the pleasures OF eternity
for the plea sures of the pass,ngs days
Moab and Israel represented two different
ideals and theories of life and religion.
Orpah chose the lower ideals Of Moab;
Ruth. on the other hand, chose the friend
snip OF Naomi. and her country. her God
and her religion as her own Naomi dia
sore good by going down TO reside in2the
land Of Moab. She touched the LIE of Ruth
t!ler.e for her good. She let her spiritual
life and character SHINE there in such a
way as to guide Ruth into the Kingdom
of God God often overruies our i'll adj
vised and even sinful steps for our own
ultimate good and the good of others.
But he greatly disciplined Naomi before
she was fit or willing to come back to
God and her people But VIXEN she DID
come back she brought Ruth with her.
and that was worth going 10 Moab for
30 we must revere the memory OF Naomi
after all. f.er life was full OF V.cissItudes
Ike that of most Christians OF many fool
ish errors and many consuming sorroWs
but the end at last. through the grace Of
God. was peace.
When Naomi started bacA to the sacred
hamlet of Bethlehem. Ruth began to feel
great sense OF possible loss. She loved
Naomi, and she believed in Naomi's God
She was forced by the occasion TO decide
her own destiny. as ~rpah was hers. Men
in this age are Obliged to decide for or
against Christ. We are compelled to
choose between Christ and Diana. be-
tween Israel and Moab. Jehovah and
Che:ncsh AS Christ marches on we must
choose concerning IN. Woe unto those
who Orpah-lii1c, t,1... back from His in
vitation. His hope. lis promises, His
ideals. His life, His se-vice. Orpah per-
.oned in Moab. but 4-utl chose that good
part winch was not taken from her. Her
love for Naomi and her God was a self
sacrificing love. Ruth stal.ed all upon
her dccision-country riches, rela fu-
ture prospects, everything. The rich young
ruler who loved Christ in human way
was not willing TO give up all for Him,
and lost Him and Heaven and all.
SANCT1FIED LOVE. ,gas.G
Mutual love AND faith towards God
sanctifies all the relationships Of life.
Faith in Gcd males our love for one an
other indestructible. The Book CT Ruth
is missionary report. It shows US how
Moabtess woman was saved herself and
became the ancestress of David and his
greater Son. anything that helps to es
tablisil such genealogy is vital and fun
Gancntal. II is an important link in the
history CT the Kingdom OF God on earth
Naomi, whose character was rooted in re-
lyicn, did effective work for God. She
brought Ruin into the covenant of saliva
ton. Ma oni was Ruths spiritual mother
IT was love in Their relationship that
made religion power and gave force TO
Naomi's. words. II is love back of words
that always males them power. Naomi
taught faith in God by her life. She car
ried religion in her chara cter. The friend
snip between Naomi and Ruth reached
is perfection when Ruth said: Thy God
shall be my God They could journey
on then not only 70 Bethlehem together,
but towards the Eternal City Of God to-
gether. Lazarus. in Abraham's bosom,
shows that there are human loves in
, Heaven. God IS seeking through eur.
sodiy friends TO win us to Christ We
should Vie ourselves to the cody per-
Suas:or Of such friends. Covenant wi n
the people of God. Start with them for
the Heavenly Canaan. Blessed is such
companionship AS Ruth and Naomi jour
neycd towards Canaan the clouds Of sor-
and finally left beautiful rainbow of
peace and comfort around them. God was
retter 20 both of them than they could
have imagined possible. SO VII 1t be
with all those that love Him. The Chris
tian's sorrows abide but for the night, JOY
cometh with the morning of Gods own
good time. BY the simple performance
Of duty each day Ruth came into great
reward. By divine guidance she entered
both the fed and the heart Of Boaz.