Several years ago we spent our vacation camping in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. We thought that we were far away from the cities and busy highways, so we were quite surprised one morning to hear large trucks coming up the gravel road by the campground. We ran out to the road and found four large semitrailer trucks loaded with sheep. They had brought 1700 sheep to graze in the mountain meadows for the summer.
It was very interesting watching these sheep being unloaded. What a noise they made as they ran down the ramp and off into the forest. It all reminded me of the verse in Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6), “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.” I thought the men would never be able to find all the sheep again. We, too, are just like these sheep. Each one of us wants to go our own way, doing what we want to do, instead of following the Shepherd.
However, we soon saw that there was one man with a horse who rode into the forest and rounded up the sheep. He was the shepherd of these sheep and took them up into the mountains.
Later in the afternoon we were again surprised when nearby we heard a “baa baa!” We found one little lost lamb running here and there, not knowing where to go. It had gotten lost in the forest and had been left behind. We felt very sorry for this little lamb. We knew that it might never find the rest of the sheep and could easily be killed by a wild animal such as a bear or coyote. Again we were reminded of how the Lord Jesus told of the shepherd in Luke 15:4,54What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:4‑5). “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing.” So if you are lost in your sins, as this lamb was lost in the forest, the Saviour of sinners is seeking you. Don’t run away any longer, but come to the Lord Jesus today. He has said, “Come unto Me... I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
We decided to catch this little lamb and take it back to the rest of the flock. But I’m sorry to say that it disappeared into the forest before we could catch it. We never saw or heard it again.
We hope that none of you who read this story will be like that poor little lamb. We pray that you will come to the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life for the sheep. “I am the good Shepherd... I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14,1514I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14‑15).
ML-04/12/1981