IN the Highlands of Scotland, on those wild and rugged mountains, the home of the red deer, a strange sight is seen at times.
While scanning a distant hill-side with a telescope for deer, the sportsman will sometimes observe a moving white speck.
On questioning the keeper beside him, he is informed that it is a lost sheep. So lost that it is past recovery. Terraces, or flats, have been formed on the hill-side by the action of rain and weather.
The sheep, looking over the top, has noticed how green and fresh the grass appears on the terrace beneath, and without thinking of getting back, has leapt down, to find, after it has eaten the little patch of grass, that retreat is impossible. Neither can the shepherd reach the sheep; the descent is too perilous. It is lost. It may be that the poor silly sheep can see and reach another terrace, or even two or more beneath. The story is repeated; the little patch of grass is soon grazed, and then? '
When the last blade is consumed on the last terrace, the poor sheep must either die of starvation, or casting itself over the edge, be dashed to pieces.
And so it is with the poor worldling. The pleasures of sin lead him on, ever offering him something fresh, or more agreeable, like the next flat which the poor sheep sees beneath it. But for sheep or sinner it is a downward path, like the man in Luke 10:3030And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:30). Oh! poor pleasure seeker, what will your end be? The last grass flat of pleasure will soon be reached. You may be on it now. The last blade will soon be consumed, the last bit of pleasure enjoyed, and then? What about your soul's eternity? Or it may be profit, or renown, yes, even religious reputation, that you are set upon gaining; and when you have obtained the last bit of either, or all— what then? What about your soul's eternity?
But thank God, unlike the lost sheep on the Scotch hill-side, you are not yet beyond the Good Shepherd's reach. He has gone " into the mountains and sought that which is gone astray " (Matt. 18:11-1311For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. (Matthew 18:11‑13)), spoken about a little child, and my reader may be one.
“And none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Or how dark was the night that the Lord passed thro
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.”
He gave His life for the sheep. He went under the dark waters of death to save them; and now He would put thee upon His strong shoulders, and carry thee all the way home to glory, rejoicing over thee; or, if thou art a little lamb, carry thee in His bosom, pressing thee to His tender heart, that thou mightest know the deep fond love that fills His heart for thee.
Do you object to be cared for with such care, to be loved with such love, to be saved at such cost, my reader? Oh do but say in thy heart,—
“Savior, I do trust Thee—
Trust Thee with my soul!
Guilty, lost, and helpless,
Thou dolt make me whole.
There is none in heaven
Or on earth like Thee;
Thou hast died for sinners,
Therefore, Lord, for me.”
W. G. B.