Our Lord is very active in the world today. He is out in the highways and by-ways seeking for those who would be His faithful followers. He knows what is in the heart of each one, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, He is speaking to them to repent of their sins and follow Him.
He is speaking to those inside and to those outside the church. Everyone is being given the opportunity to move along in the Spirit through some channel which He opens up to them--through a Christian friend, the Bible, a sermon--or very often He speaks directly to individuals through a dream or in their thoughts. As a shepherd calls his sheep and the sheep know his voice and follow him, the great Shepherd of all time is calling His own sheep to come into the fold so that they will be protected from the wolves of the unbelieving world. The Shepherd loves His sheep and desires all to come to the fold for safety.
Jesus explains in the Bible that when a sheep goes astray, the shepherd will spend a very long time and much energy to look for it. In the same way He says that He, the great Shepherd, has infinite patience in trying to get people to listen to what He is trying to tell them. He is always calling to all men, but only some have ears to hear the gentle, quiet voice. When one sheep is found who has been lost, Jesus tells us there is more rejoicing in Heaven over the one who has been found than for the 99 who were locked up safely in the sheepfold (Luke 15:4-7). In this story we see the infinite love and patience of the great Shepherd.
Just as the sheepfold provides security for the sheep, so too, a person who repents of his sin and says, "Jesus, I want to be yours and come into your fold" is given a peaceful heart. He knows the Shepherd will take care of him through the most difficult circumstances, and he will have no fear.
When the shepherd goes out to bring in a lost sheep, sometimes the sheep become difficult to lead back to the fold. Many of our difficulties in life result from our not following closely behind our Shepherd. Just as a child must be disciplined to attain mature adulthood, the sheep whom Jesus is bringing back to the fold must have the rod of the Shepherd. We learn much through the trials of this life if we follow Jesus.
The Bible also tells us that in the last days the sheep will be separated from the goats. As the Holy Spirit is being poured out upon the earth today, those who respond to and become Jesus' own sheep will have to become separate from those who do not respond. "The gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it" (Matt.7:14 LB).
To which voice are you listening? The other voice which is calling to us is Satan through the occult practices springing up everywhere. The call of Jesus leads us into a land of peace and joy; the call of the occult leads us into a false peace at first but eventually brings only fear and destruction.
Let us all tune our ears to the gentle voice of the Shepherd who wants to take us safely in for the night!
© 1999, Doreen Palmer
