Sermon Illustrations

A PURPOSE FOR SHEEP

Sad to say, millions of people wander through life with no earthly idea what they’re here for.

One of the abiding fascinations of my wife here in Germany are sheep. About once a year, a shepherd brings a flock of sheep near our village, and my wife goes out and makes as many snapshots as the shepherd will let her.

I sometimes go along, and it’s fascinating to me how the Bible often compares people to sheep. After watching them for awhile, I can see why. Sheep, by their nature, live only for the moment. Their line of vision is never more than the next clump of grass. They just chew a clump, and then go to the next clump. Slowly and imperceptibly, they get further and further away from the fold. Without a shepherd and his trusty sheep dog, they would wander off with no direction or purpose.

People are like that. Often they live for the moment; the next clump of grass of pleasure; having no direction or purpose; not knowing what they’re here for.

God’s Word tells us what we’re here for. The Bible tells us we were created for one paramount purpose from which every other purpose emanates—to bring glory to God.

* In Isaiah 43:7 we read "...every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory..."

* Ephesians 1:5-6 – "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

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