I thought of the "lost sheep" of our lives. We all have lost sheep in our families.
They were all raised on the same "farm". They grazed in the same
meadows, drank from the same streams, rested together under the same
cooling shades. But somehow, somewhere, during the growing season they
strayed. They thought they saw a brighter meadow with cooler streams.
They thought the grasses were richer, somehow greener. They had grown
tired of being led where they needed to graze, they wanted to find
their own way. They were in search of adventure. It was so near, they
could almost smell it!
Their way led to a wilderness. That wilderness was filled with
dangers. Their straying away left empty places. But the flock itself
could not cease following the Shepherd to seek the lost sheep, or else
they too would become lost sheep. They felt the wisest action would be
to stay near the Shepherd and the home he provided.
The loud persistent bleating of the ewes reached the ears of the
Shepherd. With their voices straining to be heard, they were crying
out the agony of their hearts for the loss they were feeling. No
longer did they feel their little lambs nearby. There lives held an
emptiness that they could not understand.
As soon as they saw their Shepherd coming toward them with his
purposeful stride, their bodies ceased trembling. Their voices
quieted. They grew calmer just from the sound of His soothing voice as
He spoke in hushed tones of assurance. They felt peace. He had them to
lie down. Near the large tree, where a nearby brook with its water
tumbling over stones caused the temperature to drop noticeably around
them. The change in atmosphere brought a sleepiness to their weary
bodies. They rested.
Once the Shepherd saw that all the sheep were safe and their immediate
needs were met, He started off for the rocky hillside nearby. His
inner spirit told him he would find the missing sheep there. He saw
tracks telling him that his count was correct, he was in search of 3
missing sheep. It was growing late in the evening. Clouds of a
promised storm were gathering in the west. He had to find them before
the slashing rains started. The hillside would be dangerous and
slippery if he could not locate them before it rained.
And what about the adventure seeking sheep? Boisk, Banimen and Tollie.
Different mothers, same family. Same training as the other sheep in
the flock. They however, each had their own idea of what they wanted.
They loved their families, even enjoyed the attention of the Shepherd,
but felt compelled to follow neighboring sheep to the hillside for
adventure. They felt that somehow there must be more to life than
grazing, drinking, walking, resting, romping, and shearing. Surely,
there must be something else.
When they started out on their little lark, they did not think past
the noontime grazing. They weren't even upset that their neighboring
friends that had first suggested the adventure had not shown up. They
didn't think about rocks in the road that would embed themselves in
their feet, nor did they consider the thorny bushes that would seem to
leap out at them from nowhere.
It was, as a matter of fact, a very thorny bush that had trapped
Tollie. The more she struggled, the deeper the thorns dug into her
thick wool, even to reach down and bite into the skin. The blood oozed
onto her white wool, staining it scarlet. Boisk and Banimen didn't
know what to do. They tried everything they could think of, but
nothing worked. Then Banimen had a thought, maybe he and Boisk could
chew at the base of the thorny bush, in the place just below where the
thorns protruded.
They began chewing, each taking a turn. She had ceased struggling due
to the weakening legs. She could hardly stand upright. Finally they
had chewed enough that they were able to help her free herself. The
thorny bush remained around her neck, digging in if she moved wrong,
but at least she was able to walk.
Tollie was in pain as she had never experienced in her life. As she
walked along she felt more encumbered than before they freed her from
the bushes roots. They had nothing to offer for the pain she was in.
Nothing except the hope that they might be discovered missing and
maybe the Shepherd would come looking for them.
They continued their trek in the rocky hills of what seemed a faraway
land from where they had begun this morning. But surely they couldn't
go home. They would be made fun of. They would be shunned by the
others. No, they would have to continue on this way.
Nothing they saw looked inviting. Banimen began to notice the drop in
temperature and the ominous clouds. In the distance they saw flashes
of fire in the sky. He began to miss his mother. He thought of her
soft voice. He was so far from what he remembered of the soft comfort
of his mothers side.
Boisk went on ahead. He began to nibble on berries that he thought
would quiet the desperate hunger he was feeling in his rather empty
belly. Instead of conquering hunger though, he began to feel very
sick. The sickness began to spread from not only his stomach, but to
his heart and his head as well. He soon became too dizzy to stand. He
swayed from side to side and finally fell over. Unable to right
himself he began to weep. Calling for his father in his weak sick
voice. His throat stung from the juice of the berries. He was tired
and was now wishing with all his heart that he had never left. Would
he ever see them again? Would they all perish out here on this
hillside?
The rain came softly at first, as Banimen and Tollie struggled up the
hill to be find Boisk. Soon the climb began to feel as if they were
going nowhere. They began slip on the slimy clay as it soaked up the
rain falling in sheets all around them. The whole hillside seemed to
disappear in the heaviness of the clouds and rain. As Banimen slipped
and fell, he seemed to tangle himself in the thorny bush still binding
Tollie's bleeding neck. Tollie did not have enough strength to stand
under the pressure of the struggle caused by Banimen. She fell. Down
the hill. Banimen close behind, falling too.
The rocks struck them from either side until they stopped at the edge
of a cliff. They felt the sudden fear that gripped their hearts. If
they moved forward at all, they would tumble to their death. Where was
home? Where was their family? Were they warm and safe? Did they miss
the stray sheep?
Suddenly the thunder grew louder. It seemed to shake the very rock
they were clinging to. The thunder seemed so near. Almost under their
ears which were pressed to the rock. The cuts from the rocks had gone
deep into Banimen's legs. He wondered where Boisk was. Had he reached
the top? Would he come and search for them? Tollie was barely
breathing. Was she near death? Thoughts tumbled around his head as the
thunder that grew louder.
Tollie saw him first. She thought she was dreaming. The horse was
shining white against the storm blackened sky. Sitting atop the horse
was the Shepherd. His voice was soft and his arms were firm as he
began to lift her to her feet. He carefully unwound the thorny bush
from Banimen and then began to remove it from her neck. His fingers
prodded gently her wool and skin in search of the gashes that were
still bleeding. He quickly began to pour in a warm soothing ointment
into the wounds. Then he wrapped her with a cloth so soft and
fragrant, that she could sense his devotion.
He gently laid her across the back of the horse, along with Banimen.
He spoke soft words in the ear of his horse and turned to climb up the
steep hill in search of Boisk. His cries reached his ears long before
his eyes were able to rest on him. Boisk thought he was dreaming. He
thought the berries surely had taken his life and he was dreaming of
heaven. But soon he felt his Master's strong arms offering security
and love. When Boisk opened his mouth to offer his weak bleat of
gratitude, the Shepherd poured in water. Water unlike he had ever
tasted. This water was cool and sweet. It seemed to bring healing to
his heart and stomach instantly. The gnawing pain left him. The
dizziness was gone. His Master gently picked him up and carried him
down the hill to the waiting horse.
When they arrived at the meadow, the Shepherd, horse and three lost
sheep were greeted warmly by the waiting flock. They were all so happy
to see them. Tollie had stains of scarlet on her wool, but the
Shepherd would soon bathe her and she would be clean again. The scars
of Banimen and Tollie would soon heal, but their hearts forever hold
the memory close as a reminder of the love and devotion of their
Shepherd.
Up on the hillside, which now seemed a distant memory, Boisk had
tasted a water so clear that his heart and life would eternally be
changed. His eyes held a light filled with love for the Shepherd. His
Master had left all the other sheep to search him out. Boisk felt a
love so deep in his heart he couldn't explain it. He couldn't hold it
in. He knew in his heart that he would never leave his Shepherd's side
again.
Luke 15:4-7
So Jesus used this illustration:
"If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was
lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to
go and search for the lost one until you found it?
And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders.
When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors
to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.
In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who
returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and
haven't strayed away!
Are you the lost sheep? Do you know how much your Father wants to
bring you into His fold? Into safety and warmth? He loves us with an
everlasting love. A love that knows no end.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have
loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I
have drawn you.
Trust Him
No comments:
Post a Comment