What Does It All Mean?

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

“Good” meaning…

“Fair”, “of it’s own natural excellence”, and “in the moral sense, beautiful and noble”.

And yet, many wonder if He is good?

We see the state of the world, the state of hearts, those leaving and betraying one another….And we can question the very core, the authenticity of our Savior.

False religions portray God on a scale…If we are good, God then is good. But if we are bad, God then must also be bad. 

But God isn’t a reflection of us. We are to be a reflection of Him.

And despite how we are feeling, despite how evil or wickedness, or disappointed we are with existence….

God loves us.

And our actions don’t have the power to alter the unchanging character of Him who died for us.

I see the lies around us. Those following their instincts, those living by the flesh, those with a severed conscious doing what seems acceptable to them….

But when we follow our natural notions or instincts, how can we sleep at night? Can those who live outside the will of God really even hide from the fear that grips them?

Will people’s pride or agendas save them when they meet their maker in Heaven?

Haven’t we learned yet that the world around us deceives us, promising contentment and happiness, but like the dangling carrot, it leaves us when we try to reach it?

And at the end of the day, we are born into nothingness, and no man will ever die peaceful, putting their hope in their job, their car, their agenda, or their own selfishness.

Scripture says there is also a hireling.

He is NOT the Good Shepherd. He DOES NOT own the sheep. He sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep. Then, the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. (John 10:13)

And you can tell a lot about evil and deception by the fruit of a man. Does he create unity and wholeness, love and gentleness…

Or does He devour the innocent? Scatter those with good intentions? Chase away those giving their lives to do something selfless and good?

Christ said, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me”. (John 10:13)

Do we know God?

Do we hear His voice? Do we feel the fruits of the Spirit growing increasingly in us?

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

“Do not be surprised by fiery trials.” I hear Him whisper this morning.

The morning after the wolf attacked, after the enemy devoured and ate good things, choosing hate and deception, scattering the sheep and diverting attention away from what’s really going on.

And in America, we can accept that there are trials. But what about when trials get fiery?

What about when the innocent are like hurting, bloody sheep and the wolf seems to keep devouring, over and over again?

Will we take on the mantel of our Lord and Savior? Will we say, “yes” to fiery trials? Will we willingly walk into the oven, clothed in innocence, holding our head high with a clear conscience, like Shadrack, Meeshak, and Abednigo?

Will we speak truth and keep speaking it, even if it costs us our time, and energy, our lives, and reputation?

I close my eyes and instantly see the stripped Shepherd, the GOOD Shepherd. He stands, looking at me, dis-robed this morning.

His blood is shed. I see the stripes on his back. I hear the temptest, slaying and slashing accusations of guilt on Him, though innocent.

But then, I see His face.

And how our world will change, when we turn from the distraction and fix our eyes upon His face.

I am frozen and taken back.

He is not scowling and resentful, bitter, or angry. His face is soft, tender, eyes peer at me with grace, as He dies for an eternal purpose, one we might not be seeing fully yet….

He looks up at me, strong peering eyes, speaking right through me, saying, “These are the stripes I have taken for you.”

I look down at Scripture and read, “No one takes it (my life) from Me, but I lay it down Myself (willingly).”

And yet, we think we can live this Christian life locked in cathedrals or plastic shelters of our own idols or religion, when as believers, He has called us to live the resurrection, but He has also called us to face the crucifix of our own selfish existence.

And we can’t claim the resurrection, without having our own journey to Calvary.

And the reality is, the enemy only ravages and thrashes around because He knows his days are shortening.

We stand on a gospel that isn’t a scale of good and bad, in hopes that we will get into heaven.

We are saved by grace, His stripes, His blood…not by our good works or hope of personal salvation.

As a result, we choose the same cross our Savior hung onto; innocent, spit upon, rejected, dejected….taking the cross so that others will know that our God is so good that He willingly lain His life down for us….

Displaying to a dying world, the cross is not the end our belief system. It’s just the beginning.

“I have power to lay it down (my life) AND I HAVE TH POWER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN.” (John 10:18)

And when hirelings, those pretending to be god for pay, come in and snatch away the innocent sheep….

It is our Savoir who comes in and shook the very foundations of history. He goes after His sheep, making a name for himself in History.

He’s the same God who didn’t die, to live a locked-in-a-grave existence. The grave is empty! He rose for you and me!

• He is GOOD, despite the wickedness that poisons the air we breathe.
• He is GOOD, despite the enemy that lurked to kill the innocent.
• He is GOOD, regardless of how things look at the moment.
• He is GOOD in any and all circumstances, and His name will be defended.
• He is GOOD, despite our thoughts or our feelings.
• He is GOOD when the gates of hell seem like they are prevailing against us.
• He is GOOD, and we haven’t seen the last of Him. He is riding in on a white horse saying…

Vengeance is mine. I will bring judgement upon those who harm the innocent. 

After all, we are not people of false religion that says we have to earn a saving relationship with our Lord, Jesus. We are people of the cross, and we have been given the gift to rejoice in tribulations.

So, instead of shrinking back, we stand tall, and thank our accusers, for they are making us look even more like our Savior.

We are people who can stand up and trust the God who saved David, and Daniel in the lion’s den,  never singed even one hair on the head of the three men that stepped into the fire to defend His Lordship….

Yes, we are people of the cross. 

And even if they de-robe us, whip, and spit upon those living a gospel by faith, in innocence…

The God of the Universe is on our side.

• He is the same God that made the earth shake, made the large stone be rolled away.
• He is the same God who walked out of the grave….showing us the scars in his hands and feet.
• He is the same God who called us to “go” to the nations, to testify of His righteousness.
• He is the same God who will return with power and vengeance, the one the heaven’s cry, “holy, holy, holy” to endlessly, day and night.
• He is same God who reigns in heaven and earth, The One, one day every knee will bow, ever tongue will confess to.

He is my God. My King. He is the power, and above all principalities. He is my deliverer, my Prince of Peace.

He is God. He is Jesus. He is the Holy Spirit.

He is the Shepherd who leads us….

And regardless of what we are seeing today….

He IS GOOD.