Pastor Alex Rockwell
Special to The Guardian
Palestine, the land in which Jesus lived, has been called “the land of shepherds.”
More than most, David, who served as a shepherd to his flock saw that the Lord is the Shepherd of His people. No wonder God chose Him to write, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” Throughout the 10th chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus likens himself to the shepherd who loves His sheep, gives His life for His sheep, saves His sheep and keeps His sheep forever.
Jesus is the great, good shepherd, and we who have personally received him as our savior are his sheep. As we study through this chapter of God’s word we will see several great truths.
We learn that for those who have Christ in their lives, He is their eternal salvation. “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved….” V 9. “I have come that they may have life V 10a. “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” V.11. “I lay down my life for the sheep.” V 15. Becoming a true Christian, regardless of church affiliation is not by baptism, not by church membership, not by birthright, not by good works. This raises the question as to how anyone can enter God’s fold. As we sincerely search the Bible, we learn that there is only one way- Jesus is the only door. He said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We enter the door to becoming a child of God, and later to heaven with a repentant heart and simple trust. Mark was inspired to write in his gospel, “Repent and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15. When this happens, we are what God’s Word describes as “saved,” “converted”, “born again”. Paul’s answer to a sincere seeker is vital. This man asked, “What must I do to be saved?
Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Acts 16, 30-31. A grand old hymn reminds us, “I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There’s no other way but this. I shall ne’er get sight of the gates of light, If the way of the cross I miss.”
These wonderful truths assure us that not only is Christ our salvation, but also that our salvation in Christ is forever secure. This is one of the great truths of the Bible. Everyone who has truly been born again, is saved forever. (This does not apply to someone who has just made a shallow profession. But for genuine Christians salvation is truly “eternal salvation.) John 10:28,29 is perhaps the strongest passage in the Bible guaranteeing the absolute security of every child of God. It says, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
So, let’s rejoice that there is a saviour-shepherd who died for us, cares for us, and will bring us home at the end of the way. The question is: Is He your Good Shepherd? If not, remember that Jesus has never, turned down a sincere humble seeker. Just come as you are, wherever you are.
Alex Rockwell is the host of faith-based, non-denominational “Just A Minute” an inspirational thought for the day heard in Charlottetown on weekdays on radio station CFCY at 5 p.m. and on radio station CIOG at 8:05 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. “Just A Minute” is also heard on several other Maritime radio stations. A guest sermon runs regularly in Saturday’s Guardian and is provided through Christian Communications.