by David Brenneman
"Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”" John 10:25-30.
When you read this chapter and it's similar sections of the other Gospel accounts...read it well that you either are a follower of Jesus Christ and by that are one of His sheep or you are someone else's sheep.
Someone else's? Either people are Christ-followers, Christians, or they are not. Therefore those who are not...are following someone else.
The Bible clearly says that either we are going to Hell for our own sins or we are forgiven of our sins by faith and trust in what Christ Jesus alone did on the cross.
We either are saved or we are not.
Not of any works we might have done or will do lest any man or woman could boast. That's what grace is. God's riches at Christ's expense.
My favorite song even above Amazing Grace is one by Charlie Pride. "He Took My Place".
If Jesus hasn't taken your place with regards to your judgment of sin that you have set against you then you will face the judgment of God yourself.
"Softly and Tenderly" is another great hymn that follows "He Took My Place". I heartily encourage you to look up the words to these and think long and hard about them.
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and for me. See on the portals He's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home. Come home! You who are weary come home!
Jesus knows your past. Yet He still wants to take your place. He still wants to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.
It doesn't matter what it is. You see when Jesus died and arose 3 days later? All your sins were yet future. As another great song says it, "When He was on the cross, I was on His mind".
You listen to someone every single day. You either listen to your Shepherd, Jesus Christ, or other shepherds. Others who will mislead you.
It's why there's so much said to getting away to be with Jesus. To learn what His voice sounds like.
You read it yourself. He said His sheep hear His voice. Sheep learn the voice of their Shepherd by interacting with them. The Shepherd teaches, they obey.
Are you one of Jesus's sheep?
Was there a place in your life, as there is in mine, where you came to Jesus to be saved? That you can confidently say that yes, Jesus Christ is Lord of your life? That He is the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life?
If not, my Dear Reader, then Jesus isn't your Shepherd.
By coming to Christ for salvation you pass from death to life!
"For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14.
You cannot know or understand Jesus as your Shepherd if you do not have salvation in Jesus alone for your sins. Until He brings true life to your soul you cannot understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned, spiritually understood.
So that's everything. You're either one of His sheep or you are not. All who are not are condemned to spend eternity paying an eternally painful price for those sins.
Jesus will meet you wherever you are. Be it a hospital bed, a closet, front line combat. Be it while driving a semi-truck or a car to a bicycle. You could be walking dark lonely streets or some back road in the country. You can be in prison on trumped up charges to being in there because of something you did do. You could be on death row. You could be even the leader of all that's against the name of Jesus Christ and He will still come to you if you want Him to be your Lord and Savior. Your social status means nothing. Your political affiliations mean nothing...these won't stop Jesus from coming to to save you.
The Bible says that He died once for all mankind. That most decidedly includes you.
To those who do claim the name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord...live it. Live like He is. Live like it's true. Don't hide it anywhere. Let the light of Jesus Christ shine for all the nations to see.
Jesus is coming back because the Word of God must be fulfilled and completed. The Father set a time by His own authority to judge the living and the dead. It's coming very soon. We do not know exactly when which is why the plea is so urgent to tell people about this free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
So who's sheep are you?
If you aren't saved yet...the Bible, not I...says that Jesus isn't your Shepherd. You are not going to hear His voice. You can't attempt to live a life of obedience to God's Word without being saved by Jesus and have it matter at your trial.
Jesus said that there will be many people who will say they did all kinds of things for God, even for Jesus, and He will say to "depart from Me for I never knew you!".
Living a whole life doing good things, without Christ as your Savior equals nothing.
Living a mostly good life of good things, without Christ as your Savior, equals nothing.
Living your own life, without Christ as your Savior, equals absolutely nothing.
Those 3 and every type of life in-between without Jesus as your Savior and Lord will only get you a full judgment against you from Jesus Himself.
So what will it be for you?
Those on the outside of salvation in Christ cannot understand or know the truth of a life in Christ. You have to ask Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life before you can find out what a life in Christ is all about. Don't believe the hype that the others who aren't saved are saying about it. They can't know either unless or until they come themselves to be saved.
Is Jesus the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life? Then listen to Him. Go where He says, do what He has for you to be doing. Learn the voice of your Great Shepherd and obey it.
If He isn't...oh the dark future that awaits all who are not.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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