We are -- WHAT?

If someone would like to compare me to an animal, I wouldn’t mind to be compared to a lion.  They are strong, beautiful and they do sleep a lot (something I don’t have the luxury to do!)  I wouldn’t mind being compared to an eagle, either, as they are majestic and have great eye-sight (something I wish I had!).  Being compared to a Siamese isn’t bad either, as they are very affectionate and devoted only to one master (my favourite!).  However God’s Word doesn’t compare us to lions, eagles or Siamese. Jesus compares us to sheep, not once, but many times:

Matt 9:36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Matt 10:6: “Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Matt 10:16: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.”

Matt 25:33: “He will put the sheep on his right . . .”

Why are we compared to sheep?  Is it a flattery or is it … something else?  Do we know anything about sheep?  If you were to raise a sheep, there are some basic lessons that you would learn from it: 

1. Sheep are not the most intelligent animal.  Have you ever met a sheep trainer?  Neither have I.  Sheep can’t play fetch or catch.  They won’t roll over and show their tummies.  No circus would have any attraction based on the fantastic performances of their sheep.  Why?  Because all sheep do is eat, eat and eat some more.  Are we compared to that?  Yes my friends.  Just like sheep that are dumb, we are dumb.  We try to obtain salvation by ourselves.  We try to obtain it through good works, just like some sheep try to show off by eating more grass than others.  Does this make one sheep more desirable than others?  No.  We cannot save ourselves.  We are too dumbly (does this adjective even exist?) enslaved to sin for that.

2. Sheep are defenceless.  Have you ever observed sheep?  They have no fangs and no claws.  Their teeth would not even be able to tear a piece of meat out of you.  They can’t outrun even a human, and humans are certainly not the fastest beings in the world!  This is probably why you don’t have baseball teams named: “The Chicago Ewes!”  We humans are just the same.  When confronted with sin, we are defenceless.  We fall heads over heels into it and are smothered and sunk by it’s viciousness.  The devil knows very well that we are easy prey:  “Did God really…” “Everybody does it…” “Just try it for once…” “Are you a chicken?…(no I am a sheep, which is even worse!)”

3. Sheep are dirty.  Once processed, wool is beautiful and clean.  But when the wool is on the sheep, it is dirty.  Try to pet an unshaven sheep.  Yeah, dirty, dirty, dirty!  Dogs and cats clean themselves. Birds take baths. But sheep?  They are dirty and they stay that way.  We humans are just the same.  We are dirty through sin and we just stay that way.  Sin is dirty my friends, and worse than that, we humans love to roll into it and let it cling on us!

4. Sheep can’t sleep!  There aren’t very many creature besides human beings who have trouble sleeping.  Cats take catnaps (smile), dogs snore (some really do!), bears hibernate (I wish I could be a bear sometimes!) and sloths slumber most of the day and night (must be nice).  But sheep can’t sleep unless everything is right perfect. If there’s a predator in the neighbourhood, they won’t sleep. If there’s tension in the flock, they won’t sleep. If there are bugs in the air, they won’t sleep (I wouldn’t either!). If they are hungry, they won't sleep.  Humans have trouble sleeping too.  If you don’t believe me, contact the pharmaceutical companies, they make billions selling sleeping pills.  We worry, we toss about, we are stressed, we are overworked, and we can’t sleep.  We are worried, worrisome creatures!

5. Sheep are not watchful animals.  The main concern for sheep is to fill their stomachs.  They are not, by nature, watchful, and they often forget about potential dangers.  Most group animals watch out for one another, but sheep don’t.  They are very vulnerable to danger.  They put their heads into the grass and hardly ever look up, thus they don’t watch for or listen for danger. They are too busy filling their bellies! As a result, scavengers can easily approach and devour them, or they can easily wander too close to the edge of a cliff and topple over it, or they can go too deep into a river and drown.  We humans also tend to forget also that we are on enemy’s territory.  In fact some of us even pretend that paradise is here on earth, right now ( we must be really be blind)!  The devil has an easy time trapping and devouring, for we are also too busy taking care of our own needs and desires!  No wonder that the apostle Peter described the devil as:  “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 )  It must be so easy for him, as we are all so centred on ourselves!

6. In conclusion, sheep are the least able to take care of themselves.  Sheep need a shepherd.  Without one, they would soon become extinct!  They can’t find pasture by themselves.  They can’t defend themselves.  They don’t pay attention to trouble . . . They are just like… us!  Just like sheep, we are lost without a shepherd. We think we can handle everything, but in reality we are lost!  No wonder so many people are treated for depression!

Max Lucado sums it quite well how we as humans feel:

“I am my own shepherd. I am always in need.

I stumble from mall to mail and shrink to shrink, seeking relief but never finding it.

I creep through the valley of the shadow of death and fall apart.

I fear everything from pesticides to power lines, and I’m starting to act like my mother.

I go down to the weekly staff meeting and am surrounded by enemies. I go home, and even my goldfish scowls at me.

I anoint my headache with extra-strength Tylenol.

My Jack Daniel’s runneth over.

Surely misery and misfortune will follow me, and I will live in self-doubt for the rest of my lonely life.” P. 25, 26 “Traveling Light”

Would you like to make sense out of your life?  Would you like guidance and a purpose?  Would you like to stop wandering around, lost in the jungles of our society? Would you like to be freed from sin’s deadly trap?  Isn’t it time that you accepted the Shepherd in your life?   But not any shepherd will not do.  If the “shepherd is only a hired hand, he will run away when danger approaches:  John 10:12-13: “The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.”

Only the Shepherd will do.  Who is he?  John 10:11:  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  Only Jesus is the Shepherd.  He is the only One who can help you out.  He will help you find your way home.  He will make sense out of your life.  He will give your life purpose.  He will free you from the entrapments of sin. Will you let Him be your Shepherd?  Read Psalms 23 and compare it with what Max Lucado wrote.  Personally, I prefer Psalms 23.  Read it and open your arms to the One who is the true Shepherd!

In His love,

Rob Chaffart