ALL WE LIKE SHEEP........

SOMETIMES, reading a newspaper or magazine I come across a Headline, or topic that starts me of on a train of thought.     Many of these 'thoughts' became articles, some of which were broadcast by SAYARE Radio in Kenya, where I have lived since 1968.       Together with other writings that have reflected on Kenyan life and expression, I shall now publish some via this Blog.     I shall welcome comment and opinion as we  go along. 

This first Article appeared in 1999

THE DAILY NATION'S Saturday Magazine for the 17th July featured the story of Little MARIKUA who was lost for eight days in the jungle.     This little eight year old girl had been sent a short distance (about a kilometer) from her home to collect some sugar from a neighbour.  On the way she was frightened by some dogs, and ran off the track into a herd of Zebra.   She turned again to avoid them, and after a little while she found she was lost among the high bush all around her.

THE BIBLE SAYS WE HAVE ALL GONE ASTRAY, AND FOLLOWED AFTER OUR OWN PATH!    And in doing so we have all become lost - many of us without even realising it.    As lost as Little Marikua.   She was so close to home, but she did not find her way back on her own....she wandered further and further afield until, after eight days she was almost 80 kilometres from home. 

A massive search was mounted to find her, involving the immediate community and even the Army.   Every effort was made to find her, and many sacrificed time and comfort in leaving their homes and families in order to be part of the Search Party.     Day after day they searched, finding nothing.  They had almost given up, when on the morning of the seventh day, one of the Party found the child, curled up asleep in the bush, just a few meters from where they had all camped for the night.  She was very weak, and unable to speak or move......helpless and close to death.

In God's eyes we are all like lost children, away from the safety and love of home and parent.   God, our Father in Heaven, worries and grieves over every one of us, and desiring not to lose one of us, sent JESUS Christ, His son, to seek and find us.

Jesus once told a story about a shepherd who lost one of his sheep - just one.    He had ninety nine still safely with him, but he was so concerned for the one that had become lost, that he risked life and limb to go to find him.      I have a picture at home of such a shepherd, but in the picture he has actually FOUND the sheep that was lost and away.    It is shown as having fallen down a cliff-side, and was lying hurt on a dangerous ledge.     The Shepherd was shown to be reaching down precariously, putting his own life in jeopardy, to try and reach the sheep.         There is also a SECOND pictured nearby -  This time the Shepherd has secured his lost sheep, and is carrying it tenderly draped around his shoulders on the way home again.

There was great rejoicing over Marikua's rescue,    She had been snatched from the jaws of death. The story made it into the Nations Press!     But what about those others who have become lost following their own way instead of God's?     So many are lost, far from home, and their life ebbing away.  What of their lives?   Is anyone seeking and looking, does anyone care?    GOD CARES.   Jesus cares, but do you and I care?      For those of us who might call ourselves Christian, we are supposed to believe that Jesus Himself has come to live in OUR heart.      AND if that is true, then He ought to be putting it upon our hearts to seek those who are lost,      In the Gospel of John 20v21 in the Bible Jesus says 'AS MY FATHER SENT ME , SO SEND I YOU!    He says 'GO into all the world and tell the people all about ME, and how I have come to bring them home to God and Everlasting Life.;

MARIKUA's situation and rescue really got to me.   Her loss caused such consternation and concern. 

How concerned was I for others; for those now dying in their lostness.   How much effort did I myself, as a Christian, put in to proclaiming The Good News of Jesus and doing what I could to bring the lost home into the kingdom of heaven.     THIS is God's work.     Nothing else is more important. Yes, anyone who will busy him or her self in doing this is WISE indeed.

I talk to Christians now; those who have BELIEVED themselves to have been lost and away from God, in REBELLION even to Him, but repenting of their condition have also trusted in His Love and in the Salvation and Forgiveness purchased by God's Son on that Cross on Calvary's Hill....Since you have counted yourselves Children of God, have you reached out to others that they might also be Found, and rescued from the error and imminent death their god LESS lives have led them.

If you and I are NOT in God's Search Party, even though we may attend our church meetings, and even teach and preach about Jesus Christ; even though we testify to knowing HIM, we will in the end likely be found no more than 'nominal' and not REAL Christians, Children of God.    Jesus may say to one of us DEPART FROM ME, I do not know YOU;   you have not done the will of my Father in Heaven.        Matthew 7v21-23 

IN THE WEEK AHEAD LET US ALL BESTIR OURSELVES and even adventure ourselves to reek a soul for God.  Will you join me in that?  Will each one of you, as you read this, agree with me to win a soul this week fir Christ?    DO IT for God our Father in Heaven, who has made ALL mankind to be in His Likeness, and cannot bare the thought of one of us being lost for ever from Him.     People are getting lost all around us.     Stop judging, criticising, and rejecting people.   Let Jesus encourage you to GET UP and to put yourself out in order to rescue them with the love and mercy of God

Rescue the Perishing

Throw out the lifeline across the dark wave.

There is a brother who someone should save;

Somebody's brother!  Oh, who then will dare

To throw out the life line his peril to share.