“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter
the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a
robber.” Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for
the sheep.” John 10:1, 7
In another one of the “I AM” statements Christ makes, He
unequivocally states that it is thru Him and Him alone that one enters into
heaven. The illustration of the
gatekeeper/shepherd and His sheep is clear.
Knowing how dumb sheep are with their propensity to follow whoever leads
them, it is curious that Christ chose to depict mortal man in this way. One has to wonder if that was why He
specifically chose such an animal. It’s
very true, based on our history, that man hasn’t got a clue regarding most
spiritual issues. This is the reason why
we all need to follow Christ’s lead, amusingly enough, just like sheep. We can be led away down a thorny path very
easily because of some shiny this or that that attracts us. That’s why it’s
imperative that a believer stay as close to the Lord as possible.
There are many who would attempt to climb over the wall into
the sheep’s pen to draw some of the sheep off into their own pastures. Providing a seemingly easier path is one way
the enemy of our soul can lure us into sin and far away from God. It’s what the devil has been attempting to do
since the Garden of Eden. While the
enemy of our soul may win minor skirmishes, the overall outcome of the war is
already secure. His fate is sealed. He is a defeated foe. This makes him a dangerous adversary, for he
has nothing to lose. True believers must remain close to their Lord just as
sheep must remain close to the shepherd so immediate danger is minimized.
Don’t be like the Pharisees, whose prejudice and
narrow-mindedness caused them to miss the reality of who Christ truly was. We are a blessed people if we believe in
Christ without having seen Him (John 20:29).
Let Him have full control of your life.
It’s the only way to be truly free. Until next time, walk with the King
and be a blessing!
