On June 29, Ningbo International Church in Zhejiang Province celebrated the third anniversary of its new building with a special thanksgiving service.
Rev. Zhang Jianshun, chairperson of Linyi CC&TSPM in Shandong Province, was invited to give a sermon titled "What if One Fails in the First Half of Life's Journey?" Based on Ruth 1:1-18, his message emphasized that the core of the Bible is the gospel rather than the law. Although life may encounter failures for various reasons, with God's grace, the second half of life can still be more wonderful.
This Sunday sermon was part of the serial sermons at the third anniversary three-day thanksgiving retreat held by Ningbo International Church from June 27 to 29, under the theme of "Entering Revival and Blessing."
Rev. Zhang referenced the story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth, posing a thought-provoking question: "If one feels like the first half of life hasn't gone well, can they still find hope for a better second half?"
To illustrate his point, he recounted how, during a time of famine, Naomi and her family left their home to go to Moab, hoping for a better life. Tragically, Naomi lost her husband, Elimelek, and later her two sons, leaving her alone with her two daughters-in-law.
In such a heartbreaking situation, it's natural to wonder why such misfortune struck this family. Some might say it was because they made poor choices, like moving to Moab and marrying women from there. However, Rev. Zhang challenged that view by asking, "If it is a punishment from God, why would anyone want to believe in such a God?"
He compared it with the clear statement in Samuel 2 that "the thing David had done displeased the Lord" when David forcibly took Bathsheba and pointed out that the Bible does not pass judgment on Naomi's family's hardships. Instead, he emphasized that suffering can be a mystery, and it's important for Christians not to jump to conclusions about why difficult things happen.
Then Rev. Zhang cited three stories from the Bible related to Moab as a response to the question. Genesis 19:30-38 records that Lot committed incest with his own daughter and gave birth to Moab and Ammon. Numbers 25:1-3 states that after the Israelites left Egypt, they were seduced by Moabite women to worship the false god Baal-Peor. According to Deuteronomy 23:3-6, Moses made a clear rule: "No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord."
Rev. Zhang pointed out that if one believes that Naomi's family's suffering was due to "taking the wrong path," it cannot explain why the Moabite woman Ruth eventually became the ancestor of David. "No matter from which perspective one considers it, suffering is always mysterious. Preachers should not easily draw conclusions about suffering," he said.
Rev. Zhang then quoted Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." "David said he has walked through," he explained. This indicates that "suffering is just a process; it is not the final destination. Living in the presence of the Lord throughout our lives is believers ultimate destination."
Regardless of the cause, the fact is that Naomi did indeed suffer the pain of losing her husband and children, but "what does this story mean for us today? If our first half of life is a failure, what kind of second half can we expect?"
After losing three loved ones, Naomi decided to return to her hometown. She persuaded her daughter-in-law to return to her parents' home and remarry and blessed them. Rev. Zhang pointed out that this shows the harmony of this family relationship. In response to Naomi's advice, Ruth replied, "Your people will be my people and your God my God."
He highlighted that although Naomi left the land promised to her people, she never lost her faith in God. Remarkably, she influenced Ruth, who wasn't favored by the Israelites, to hold onto that faith. Even after losing her husband, Ruth never questioned why they faced such hardships, showing the deep impact of Naomi's faith on her.
The end of their story is remarkable. Ruth went on to marry again and became part of the lineage of King David. Rev. Zhang encouraged the participants that even if we face failures in life, there is hope, as Christ invites anyone feeling burdened to come forward for support.
He continued to share an inspiring story about a pastor who changed his life from being involved in crime to earning a theology degree, reminding the congregation to keep pushing forward. With God's grace, he assured them that their future could be bright and full of possibilities.
Originally published by the Gospel Times
- Edited by Katherine Guo and translated by CJ Wang
