This story is making its way around. David Jeremiah used it on his blog yesterday from which Ryan Whitley borrowed it for his blog. Now I’m borrowing from him. Good story!
"In his book, A Turtle on the Fencepost, Allen C. Emery tells of a night he spent on the Texas plains with a shepherd who was keeping two thousand sheep. The shepherd prepared a bonfire for cooking supper and providing warmth. The sheep dogs lay down near the fire as the stars filled the sky.Suddenly Emery heard the unmistakable wail of a coyote with an answering call from the other side of the range. The dogs weren’t patrolling at the moment, and the coyotes seemed to know it. Rising quickly, the shepherd tossed some logs on the fire; and in this light, Emery looked out at the sheep and saw thousands of little lights.Emery writes, “I realized that these were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep. In the midst of danger, the sheep were not looking out into the darkness, but were keeping their eyes set toward the shepherd.”
Our society has plenty of grass covered hills that lead many sheep to wander from the flock, believing them to be greener pastures. They decide to trust their own sight rather than the Shepherd’s leadership to provide for their needs. Sports, hobbies, money, work, gadgets, family, relationships, etc. may look appetizing and may be nutritious but if outside the leadership of the shepherd, seemingly good things may be a dangerous distraction. When darkness comes stray sheep will find themselves all alone, still surrounded by delicious grass but completely vulnerable to the enemy.
Hearing again from the mother of Protestant reformer John Calvin, we learn how to avoid the appeal of greener pastures:
“Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things; in short, if anything increases the authority and power of the flesh over the Spirit, then that to you becomes sin, however good it is in itself.”
Goodness (or pleasure from) a product of creation must not serve as a substitute for the goodness of (and pleasure from) the presence, leadership and blessing of the Creator/Shepherd. His rod and his staff may seem unpleasant as they keep us in line when all is well but are much more appreciated when bashing the roaring lion between the eyes when he tries to devour us. For correction and protection, the rod and staff are sources of comfort to those who trust and have faith in the leadership of the Shepherd. With eyes fixed on him, we can be assured the pastures to which he leads us will be the greenest of all.
Psalm 23:1-6 A PSALM OF DAVID.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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