I remember a family vacation to Florida when I was about 10 years old. I've always been intrigued by other life forms, especially those I don't often encounter (like ocean life). And I was never a strong swimmer, but that would not keep me out of the water. I'd don my snorkel and mask and wade out into the water. I'd only go out as far as I could before I couldn't stand on the bottom with my head above water. With my snorkel and mask on, I could float face-down and still breathe while I watched all the creatures playing around. Jelly fish floating by, those little sun fish swimming around, and even blue crabs scurrying around. I would try to keep watch of how far ocean floor was getting from me so I wouldn't drift too far out. I remember just floating around having a blast watching everything. And this particular time, I forgot to pay attention to how far I was drifting. I was just going with the tide, having the time of my life. That is, until a cloud of sea weeds started drifting toward me. I wasn't afraid of the sea weeds. A huge school of small fish darted right out of the cloud and parted in front of me as the went around. That was awesome! Then I discovered why they were swimming for their lives. A barracuda followed them out of the cloud. It stopped inches away from my face, opened its jaws exposing its razor sharp teeth, turned and swam away. I'd watched many a under-water exploratory documentary as a child. I knew what I had just encountered. And I knew that they were found primarily in waters deeper than I was accustomed. I shifted my focus to the ocean floor. I couldn't see it any longer. I popped my head up above the water to look for the shore. It was, I'm guessing, fifty or more yards away. I dunked my head back down and started my underwater paddle, not stopping until I could stand-up and walk. And then began the panic of trying to find my family on a crowded beach. I not only drifted out from shore, but also down the beach. After a few panicked minutes of running around I found them. :-) Whew. That was close.
I learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of wandering and drifting that day.
The Bible often compares the human tendency to wander to that of a sheep. And it makes this comparison quite accurately! Sheep do not mean to wander from safety. It just happens sometimes. They are busy munching on grass. Moving from one spot to another. And before they know it, they're away from their fold. Sheep are not very concerned with others. They are primarily concerned with self. They get hungry, thirsty, tired, etc. And they will do whatever they can to satisfy those desires. This leads to wandering, which could get them in trouble. A wandering sheep is, for the most part, completely defenseless against everything. When left alone, they are easy meals for any passing predator. And can even easily fall victim to their circumstances. Even something as mundane as running water can make them lose their balance, like someone with vertigo. If they near the running water to get a drink and lose their balance, they will likely drown. The worst part is is that when a sheep realizes that they are lost, they panic. And when they panic, they run. And they don't often run in the right direction, but find themselves more lost or facing even more severe danger.
We need to realize where we are spiritually. If we have drifted or wandered away, we need to call out to a shepherd - The Good Shepherd. Or maybe you have never been "in the fold" before. You are lost. But you have no idea what it would be like to be found. Let me tell you. To be found is to be home. When you're at home, a good home, you feel safe. And that is because you ARE safe. You can rest when you are at home. When a sheep is found, and the shepherd bring them home to the flock, that sheep does not have another care in the world because it knows it's safe. The sheep doesn't have to care for itself anymore, the shepherd will take care of that. When you come to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, you no longer have to care for yourself. He will take care of that. He will keep you from wandering too far again. You can rest.
If you're tired of going through the motions,wondering if you're good enough, doing enough, or just simply ARE enough. Stop the insanity! Rest in Jesus because He IS enough. Come home. You are always welcomed here. There will always be a spot at the table for YOU here, which only YOU can fill. You will always find rest here. Come home.
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