DO I REALLY KNOW THE SHEPHERD?

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly“.  (John 10:10b NKJV)
How many of you have a pet? There are many animals that make good pets. The most popular are cats and dogs. Some people also like Guinea pigs for a pet. If you live in the country and have a lot of room, you might even own a large animal such as a horse.
If you choose to have a pet, it is a big responsibility. You must be willing to take care of it. You have to feed it and make sure it has plenty of water. You must keep it clean and take it to the veterinarian when it is sick. You have to make sure your pet is kept in a safe place and, if it wanders off and gets lost, you must go and look for it and bring it back home.
As I think about having a pet and taking care of it, I am reminded about something that Jesus said about Himself. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” A shepherd is a person who takes care of sheep. Sheep can’t take care of themselves. They need someone to watch over them and care for them. They need someone to protect them from harm. Jesus said he knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. He said that He was even willing to lay down His life for His sheep. Jesus must really love His sheep!
As you might have guessed, Jesus wasn’t really talking about sheep. He was talking about you and me. We are His “sheep.” He loves us, he takes care of us, He makes sure that we have everything that we need. He was even willing to give His life so that you and I could live with Him forever in heaven. I want you to ask yourself this question, “Do I really know the Shepherd?”. There may be several flocks sharing the same sheepfold. However, when the shepherd of the sheep walks up to the door and calls his sheep, they instantly recognize his voice and respond to him. They know his call.
There are many voices which compete for our attention in the world, but there is a special note to the voice of the Lord. When He calls, everything changes – John 6:44. The voice of the Good Shepherd is the only one that can awaken the dead heart.  The lost sinners is dead until he is awakened by Him, the only one that can give us hope, the only one that sounds right to a desperate soul. All other calls sound empty and frightening when compared to the sweet call of the Lord Jesus.
When the shepherd calls forth his sheep, he goes before them and they instinctively follow him. He doesn’t have to drive them, He just leads them out and they follow closely behind. What a truth! When a soul is saved by the grace of God, such will have a desire to follow the Good Shepherd. When a person is saved and their heart is right with God, such do not have to be begged to come to worship, to tithe, to share their faith, etc. They have been called out by the Shepherd and have a burning burden to worship Him.
Jesus also reveals His identity as the Door. The good shepherd always lies at the opening of the sheepfold. By this act, he becomes the door of the sheep. Nothing could enter the fold, nothing could exit the fold without going through the shepherd himself. If anyone desires entrance into the fold of God, there is only one door; that door is Jesus Himself! He is the only way to God (John 14:6).  This truth is abundantly clear from 1 John 5:12. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Any other way leads to death and damnation. It is wonderful to be eternally saved and free from the fear of dyin, being lost and ending up in hell.
Beloved brethren, everything changes when a person meets Jesus. When He enters into a life, it cannot remain the same. He gives us the ability to live better, to love better and to do something with our lives that will glorify God. Jesus makes the difference between a life that is lived for the devil and one that is lived for the Lord. May I remind you this day that the Good Shepherd knows His sheep. He knows everything about you & me. He knows every strength and every weakness. He knows every joy and every burden. He knows every mountain and every valley. He knows every victory and every battle and He stands ready to help you in your times of need. He is our Good Shepherd and He will look after us continually. When faith is placed on Jesus Christ, salvation is always the result. This salvation is complete and it is eternal.
If the good shepherd knows us this much, the only question that remains is: Do you know the Shepherd? How you answer this question determines where you can expect to spend eternity. Your answer to this question will make all the difference between heaven and hell. If you know the Shepherd, then you can rejoice in the fact that He will ever be with you and that He will ever watch over you. If you do not know Him, then I invite you to come to Him right now. You do not have to wait. Delay is dangerous! Come to Jesus today and He will save your soul. He will place you in the flock of God. He will save you from the wrath of God. He will give you a new life and a new birth. Please come to Him today.
Have a fruitful week as you keep company with the Good Shepherd!

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede