Good Morning All,
In 1991 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident that changed four lives forever. Personally I suffered injuries that should have ended my college football career (thankfully it did not), the driver and other passenger in the car I was in were much worse than I. Ironically, the drunken driver who was traveling south in the north bound lane hitting us head-on experienced the least. It was by all means an event that not only changed my life, but nearly ended it. I still look back today, thinking about better decisions that could have been made that night to avoid the location of the accident or the incident all together. Many sleepless nights have occurred wishing we would have just taken another route. But we did not, and the product of that night has left two men with a painful gait and two others with brain damage. Each one of our lives could have been have lost that night, each one of our lives changed, but each one of us lost something, some more than others. It is amazing to think how quick a life can be changed by just one bad or good decision…
As I look back at the fateful night, I see a group of individuals that lost peace of mind. As you may know peace is one of the fruit of the Spirit, as located in Galatians 5.22-23. They are the product of the having the Holy Spirit of God in your life, which is a product of surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and believing on Him for eternal life. Events occur in people’s life that change everything: a child is born, a love one dies, a car accident or a soul is saved. These are all things that have mighty and long lasting effects on people’s lives; some good and some bad. It is hard for me to remove the images of that night from my mind, but there must be peace in all of this.
Where can one go to find the peace to survive the haunting images of our life or the trouble past that creeps up on us in the middle of the night or the day to day battles of living in a depraved world? We can go to the One that saved us…to the One that knows us, but we must know Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is called the good Shepherd, making those who are saved and born again His sheep. Read on:
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
Peace can be found in a five point review of the relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep…It is a:
1. Personal Relationship: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them”. What a comfort to have a relationship with the Creator of all things that is personal, He knows who His sheep are.
2. Permanent Relationship: “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish”. We can lose everything and anything here on earth; relationships, friendships, family…but the relationship the Shepherd has with His sheep is permanent and cannot be taken away.
3. Protected Relationship: “neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”. This relationship is protected by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Shepherd.
4. Promising Relationship: “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all”. The Father made a promise when He gave us Jesus Christ a promise that will not be removed.
5. Perfected Relationship: “I and my Father are one.”. As Jesus Christ is one with the Father, we too are one with Him, the good Shepherd Who knows His sheep and they know Him.
So with all that said, we have all had things happen to us in life, some things were so tragic that we possess a constant reminder everyday…other things are mere moments that have an effect, but only in episodes. Where can we find peace, joy, love and longsuffering? In the Shepherd, in the One that will never change…in the One that is always there for us and protects us, even when we make bad decisions.
So, today, think on these things when your mind wonders back to an event that cost you something; think on the fact that there is a Shepherd this morning that knows His sheep, no matter where they may be, what they are doing or where they may going. Just make sure you are His sheep (Jesus Christ said just one verse before the above passage: 26 “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep…”).
If you find that you are not His sheep today, with a repenting heart believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. If you do this, reply back so that I may rejoice with you or if you have further questions concerning the relationship with the sheep and the Shepherd and eternal life.
Today in History:1896 – At the Rhode Island State Fair in Cranston, A.H. Whiting wins the first car race ever held on a racetrack in the U.S.
1899 – In Newport, Rhode Island, 19 cars decorated with flowers and flags participate in the first automobile parade in the U.S.
1927 – Philo T, Farnsworth transmits the first image sent by electronic television.
1963 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame is dedicated in Canton, Ohio.
Til the Shout,
Dr. B.J. Stagner Jr.
Pastor
New Testament Baptist Church
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