"When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness."
(Ps 17:15 NIV)
It was an exciting day when Ruth Priscilla married the handsome Thomas Alden
Colbath, a jack-o-all-trades from a nearby town. She had been born and raised in
the same house in Passaconaway Valley, New Hampshire, and it is in this same
house that she and her new husband made their home. Her dreams had come true!
One day, however, in 1891, as 41 year-old Ruth was preparing dinner, Thomas left
the house, telling her that he would 'be back in a little while.' She had no
idea where he went, but she was sure he would be returning that night and would
need a light to guide him home. So she lit an oil lamp and placed it near the
window.
But he didn't come home that night. Nor the next nor the next. When days turned
into weeks and weeks into months, she began to get discouraged. Where could he
be? Had he been hurt? Did he still love her?
But he had said he would be back, and she never doubted his word. They had a
bound that couldn't be broken!
For the next 39 years of her life, Ruth placed a lamp near the window every
night. Often she would gaze out of that same window with longing, ever
anticipating Thomas' return. At such times she would dream about that day. She
imagined the tender embrace, the tears of rejoicing that would be shed. She
couldn't wait for the day her Thomas would return!
And Thomas did return. Three years after Ruth's death. He had been away for 42
years. No one ever learned why he had been away for so
long, but all he found upon his return was the mound in the burial plot near the
house where she lay.
As she faithfully awaited her husband's return, Ruth truly learned the meaning
of the word patience. May we learn that same kind of patience when we ask for
guidance from the Lover of our soul. Too often however, when He doesn't reply
according to our time table, we forge on ahead, acting
on our assumptions, and usually regretting the results of our actions, results
that could have been avoided.
Too often we forget that our God indeed will answer us. "What I do, God, is wait
for you, wait for my Lord, my God - you will answer!" (Ps 38:15 The Message)
But to tell the truth, we probably relate more with Thomas, the wanderer. He
loved his wife, have no doubt about it, but his priorities led him away from
what was truly important to him. Imagine the day he returned to find his house
deserted, with only a tombstone bearing his wife's name to greet him. It was too
late to appreciate the one he had come back for!
We, too, tend to wander away from what is truly important to us. No one has ever
shown us such love! Our Saviour, dying on a cross, for us! Unimaginable, but
true! And we love Him, but the priorities of our lives tend to drive us away
from Him, robbing us from the time we could spend discovering how awesome He
truly is. Our society isn't geared for God!
His light continues to shine faithfully, however, for He ever hopes that one day
we will return. He, too, anticipates that return: "But while he was still a long
way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to
his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20 NIV)
But one day, we, too, will die. One day it will be too late to wake up from our
stupor. One day we may regret the life that we led while we were pretending to
know the One who came to save us, but in reality, we didn't know Him intimately
at all.
Maybe today is the day for us to wake up and realize what truly matters to us.
Tomorrow may never come!
Ruth had faith in her husband. She had hope. Thomas would return! She had an
ardent love for the one who had abandoned her.
Over the next few weeks, this series will lead us from faith to hope, and will
conclude with love, as we explore these three aspects of utter importance in the
life of a Christian.
If you are one of the wandering ones, remember that the Lover of your soul has a
Light in front of His window shining quite brightly, for He, too, is waiting
patiently for your return. He loves you!
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is
love." (1 Cor 13:13 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.