Dark Side 4

John 10:27-28

My wife and her sisters like to tell the story of the time their father slipped on the ice. The girls, young children at the time, were seated in the car waiting to leave for a family gathering when their father came out of the house carrying pans heaped with dinner rolls. As he neared the car he suddenly vanished from sight.

He had slipped on the ice beside the car and gone down on the snow-covered yard. But he had not dropped a single, precious roll – his arms outstretched, balancing the pans in his hands.

Jesus has a few things to say about God’s care for all of us. What image does Jesus create? What does Jesus give us? What security do we have?

Jesus is often called the Good Shepherd. And the image is fitting. The image of a flock of sheep is a peaceful image. The sheep are helpless animals, easily lost and unable to see much beyond what is right in front of them. The shepherd stands over the sheep, watching the horizon for dangers and prodding the sheep to the good pastures.

Jesus serves as that person who watches over every one of us. Like a shepherd Jesus can guide us to the good places we need to be. Like a shepherd, Jesus can see beyond what we can see, to divert any tragedy that may be coming our way.

Just as a flock of sheep will grow accustomed and familiar with the shepherd that tends them, we too should be familiar with Jesus. We should listen to his voice and follow where he leads.

But what strikes me most in this passage is the conclusion of verse 28. No one and no thing can snatch us from the hands of Christ. No matter what tragedy or catastrophe assaults us we are safe in the arms of the Lord.

We may have our moments of fear. We may get bumped and bruised. But we must know in our hearts that God will never let us go. We shall never perish.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What will it take to remember how secure you are?