I’ve been studying the book of Ruth. It’s a beautiful story with a good ending – the only kind of story that I like.
But in between, God adds some excitement to this love story between Ruth and Boaz that has us holding our breath anxiously waiting for the final outcome.
Well, of course, since the story of Ruth is so well-known, and we all know the ending, we don’t really hold our breath. But if you were Ruth or Boaz living through the events, there were several places where there would’ve been a very scary turn of events.
From the time when Boaz and Ruth first met, there were a lot of uncertainties whether circumstances, or “fate” so to speak, would bring them together. Eventually when they discovered their mutual desire to be married, and we thought the story should end there, we discover there was a third party in the way. If things did not turn out in their favor, Ruth would’ve had to marry someone else, and the entire course of their lives would’ve been different.
Much of our lives are like that. The ending will be happy in heaven with Jesus. That we know. But in between God adds some excitement in our lives that has us holding our breath. But actually, no worries. Just like knowing the end of the book, we can go through trials knowing Jesus will work out the ending.
As I am reading the Narnia series again, I see that the adventures that the children go through are rather dangerous. Fightings and wars, enemies and traitors. But then, it’s all a part of the excitement of life in Narnia. If there were no dangers, there would’ve been no story, no maturing into kings and queens, no talking animal friends and brave warriors.
It is also clear that Aslan was there every step of the way, whether he was visible or not to the people. He was there working out the path for each individual person.
While I would like to have a life with no glitches, there would also be no adventure and no growth. And the power of Aslan will not be evident at all. And that’s no fun.