John 10:14 – “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.
These very special words comes from Jesus Himself. He gives us an understandable way of identifying and relating to Him. The subject is simple: He is the Shepherd and we are His sheep. But there is another scenario I would like for us to look at. Whilst being in deep prayer in church one day, God showed me a vision that would sit with me for the rest of my life. I saw some of the sheep standing very close to the shepherd. I also saw a fence around them. Part of this fence was a gate. And it was an open gate. To my disappointment I saw one of the sheep wanting to leave the protection of the shepherd to exit through this gate. Even worse, I knew that the wolf was somewhere outside that fence, keeping an eye on the sheep that is about to sacrifice its own protection for a false freedom…
I will never forget this vision! Too often, I find myself wandering close to this gate. I can feel it in my spirit! I feel the hunger. I feel the lack of God’s presence. And there is this very mighty inner voice from the Holy Spirit, calling me back to my Shepherd. I believe that so many people reading this, will be able to relate. You do not entirely understand how it got to that level. All you know is: you need to return – and fast!
At one point in my life, I was in a deep season of desert. We went to a church conference. To be honest with you, I was getting fed up with this season of desert. I knew that it wasn’t from God, because my conscience was burning inside of me. I was the sheep that had gone astray. I was wandering pretty close to that gate! As I took a bathroom break, my heart called out to God: “God! Please! Do not let me leave this church until You have touched me again!!!” God’s heart is always in abundance and when He answered my prayer, He answered it in an abundant way! It literally came in like a flood. I was sitting next to my Pastor and feared that he would ask me to put my phone away, because I was disturbing him… But I kept on picking my phone up to make notes. And there were a lot of them. A wave of knowledge burst on top of my head. Wave after wave God gave me an understanding of what I was going through. This is what He said: “The stronger your desire towards Me, the higher the flame of your lamp!”
We all know the story about the ten virgins in Matthew 25. Five of these virgins were sensible and waited for the Bridegroom with enough oil in their lamps. Five of them, however, were foolish. When they ran out of oil, they went to buy some. Unfortunately, while out, the Bridegroom came and they missed Him. In Revelations chapter two there was a message of warning to the church in Ephesus. God held against them that they had forsaken their First Love. In these two chapters and in many other, I believe, there is an urgent call for God’s sheep to return to Him. Not because of duty. Not because we feel forced. Not because of protection alone. But because of pure love! How could that gate of exit compare with the beauty of your Shepherd’s face?
I know about two women in the Bible that had such a desperation towards Jesus Christ, that it would leave our desperation looking like a feather in the wind! One of these were the woman that had the issue of blood. She was not allowed to be among huge crowds for she was unclean. But here she was, pushing through them all to touch the seam of His garment. Another woman was Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus even though her sister Martha needed help in the kitchen. How deep is your desperation toward Him?
Life does not come with any guarantees. One day you will find yourself touching heaven and the other day it will feel like there is no life inside of you. Some of these seasons come as a test. Some of these have been put on your path by the enemy to break you. But a truth that will never fade is this: Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd. In John 10:11 He says that He lays His life down for His sheep. Who else would love us in this way?
So, how did I return to my Shepherd? By pushing through the sandstorm and following my Shepherd’s voice until I could feel His garment against my face! We are all sheep and somehow we have all gone astray. I want to encourage you today to get away from that gate and return to your Shepherd. Even more, when you see the gate open, close it and lock it.
We have the privilege of such an intimate relationship with our Savior. It is not about your deeds or what you do to look like a Christian. It is all about your personal relationship with God. You either know about Him, or you know Him. Your Shepherd is calling you!
Blessings!
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