Follow Those Who Follow Christ

by The Rev. R. M. Cheyne

“Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”
(Ruth 1 v. 16).

I. Their God is a precious God

1. A sin-pardoning God: “Who is a God like unto thee, who pardoneth iniquity?” Unconverted souls have no God: “Without God, and without hope in the world;” or, like Orpah, they have false gods. Whatever they like best is their god. Their belly is their god — money is their god — or the god of this world is their god. But, ah! he is not sin-pardoning. Your converted friends have found a sin-pardoning God — one that washes out their sins in blood, though red as scarlet — the God and Father of Jesus — one that forgets sins: “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions, for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” — “Thou hast put all my sins behind thy back;” one that is the prodigal’s Father: “When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him.” Should you not cleave to them? They had the same sins as you — perhaps they have sinned along with you. Why should you despair, if they have found mercy? Cleave to the skirt of their garment; for God is with them.

2. Their God is a faithful God — faithful to them in enabling them to persevere: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” — “He who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” — “Even to old age I am he.” (Isa. 46:4). When once he takes a brand out of the fire, he never lets it fall in again. He will let heaven and earth fall sooner than one of his own. He keeps them night and day. The souls whom God chose four years ago in this place, he has kept to this day. Often they have been ready to die: “Then the Lord sent from above; he took me, he drew me out of many waters” — “When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them: I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”

   Faithful in temptations: “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Look back, believers, on your temptations. They have been very dreadful. You have been on the brink of ruin. The Lord has delivered you.

   Faithful in afflictions: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.” Do you not see they have a refuge in the storm? Believers in this place have passed through many sore trials within these four years; yet God has been their refuge. He is a strength to the needy in his distress. Do you not see in the hour of trial what a rest they found in God —in the Saviour? — how they poured out their sorrows into the ear of their High Priest? Cleave to them.

II. Their people are a happy people.

Naomi was one of the peculiar people of Israel. It was this people that Ruth was going to join. But converted persons amongst us have joined the true Israel — a still more peculiar people. They have been added to the Church — such as have been saved.

1. A pardoned people: “Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven.” They all have this blessedness. Sin is the greatest curse and burden in this world. Sin makes the world groan, makes damned souls shriek, and makes hell blaze. But this people have no unpardoned sin lying on them. They are washed whiter than snow. They are all fair — without so much as a spot on them. They are as clean in God’s pure eye as Christ is. Christ carried all their sins — they carry all his righteousness. Christ has suffered all their hell. They are in the love of God. God delights in them. Are they not a happy people? Are they not happier than you, who have so much sin as would sink a world?
2. A holy people — all born again — all have received the Holy Spirit. He dwells in them, and will never leave them. They have an old heart; still the Spirit reigns in them. They walk after the Spirit — they love in the Spirit — they pray in the Holy Ghost. Of themselves they cannot pray; but the Spirit teaches them. Heaven is begun in their hearts. They have a little heaven now. Do you not see that they have left off your carnal pleasures? “I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Do you see no difference in their tempers — habits — lives? Are they not calmer, happier, heavenlier, than they were before? Seek what they have found.
3. All things work together for their good. Perhaps you will say they are an afflicted people. Some in poverty — some bereaved — some groaning on sick beds. True, God dealeth with them as with sons. Often they cry. These things are against me. But really all is for them. If we could see the end as God does, we would see that every event is for the believer. When we get to heaven, we will see that every wind was wafting us to glory.
4. In death. Even wicked Balaam said: “Let me die the death of the righteous.” “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.” God calls upon you to mark the death-bed of his children. Sometimes it is triumphant, like Stephen: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Lord Jesus receive my spirit” — almost always peaceful — or, if it be that the sun goes down in a cloud, O how sweet the surprise, when the believer finds himself on the other side of Jordan! — at the pearly gate of the New Jerusalem! — in the arms of the angels! — in the smile of Jesus! “There is a rest remaining for the people of God.” Will you not cleave to your godly child — parent — sister — friend? You have sported together, you have sinned together — will you not be blessed together? “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”

(Extracted from Additional Remains).