Who’s voice?

¹“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ²The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:1-6

There are many voices competing for our attention today. There are many who are promising all kinds of rewards if we will but follow them. So how does one recognize the Voice of the Master? How does one recognize the Voice of the Shepherd?

As I listen to and read the words of many who claim to be God’s shepherds I often do not hear the voice of the One Who gave His Life for me. They say, “Come, enjoy THIS life to the fullest. Receive those things which will be destroyed at the end of time. Fixate on your carnal body.” And it is not necessarily WRONG to be blessed in this life or for this body to be healthy – but the Voice of the Master called people to a deeper life. His Voice said “Come to me all who are weary and over burdened and I will give you rest.” He said “Your sins are forgiven. and “Go. Sin no more.” His emphasis was on a right relationship with God, on blessings that spring from living according to God’s will instead of our own.

So, who’s voice should we listen to? The voice that says, “It’s OK if you sin. Don’t worry about it. We all sin and God loves us anyway!”? Just like the voice that Eve heard in the garden – it tells only part of the story. Just as the voice said “Eat and you will be like God.” (and that was “true” in that God knows the difference between good and evil) but did not say “Knowing good from evil is only one small facet of the Creator.” so doe the voices say “God loves you anyway.” Yes, God does love us, tremendously. But He calls us to be Holy because He Himself is Holy. And He gives us grace and His Spirit to help us overcome our weakness and to become the sheep of His pasture. When we learn to hear His Voice we will be guided through paths of righteousness. Not self righteousness but rather Christ righteousness. We will know His Love and His Grace and His Mercy – and will walk in a new life.

Any voice that does not call us to repent and to live a new life is not a voice of God. Any voice that places emphasis on those things which will perish is not from the Savior. The blessings He gives us are first in the spiritual realm. Forgiveness of our sins and a new mind in Christ free us to live in a new way. And as we are freed from our sinful nature’s hold through Christ’s grace and mercy we begin to receive blessings on all levels of our life.

Too many people put the cart before the horse. They want physical, immediate blessings and don’t care that their very soul is in mortal danger. Too often people forget that it is far better for us to suffer in the flesh if that means that our spirit and soul prosper. What good are physical blessings when our very soul is in danger of Hell? Look at “the rich man” and Lazarus. When the rich man died he was sent on to torment and separated by an impenetrable chasm from the blessings of paradise. Why? Because in life he had enjoyed great comfort and many “blessings” – but had never turned his heart towards God. How much better off he would have been had he turned to God in life rather than focusing on the physical, temporary “blessings” of a rich and spoiled life.

Who’s voice will you listen to? The Voice of the Shepherd saying, “Come, eat from my pastures, drink from my streams of living water.” or the voice of the false shepherds who promise but can not fulfill?