IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD - SERMON III: NO WRONG
The third jewel of truth is that, in the House of the Lord – in the eternal presence of the Lord God - there is NO WRONG. The third verse of the 23rd Psalm says this: “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
The word “restore” means “bring back.” So, let me pose this question: “What is it that our shepherd brings us back from?” But also, we must ask: “What is it that our shepherd brings us to?” Obviously, something has gone wrong in the life of the sheep - if the sheep needs to be restored . . . if the sheep needs to be brought back.
The clue to what has happened in the life of the sheep is found in the next line of this verse: “He guides me in the path of righteousness.” Focus on the word “path”.
It was not uncommon for a sheep to wander off the beaten path and to get lost; nor is it uncommon for a child of God to wander away from God only to find himself out of God’s Will. As Isaiah says, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6).
Our arrival at our appointed destiny depends upon the good shepherd – the one who lays down his life to restore his sheep to the path where disobedience and harmful effects of sin are removed.
It is interesting to note that in Bible lands, even today, the law concerning cultivated areas - like gardens, vineyards, orchards, and grain fields - is the same as it has been through the centuries. The owner is required to build a wall, a hedge, or a fence to protect cultivated ground.
If a grazing animal breaks through or jumps over a protecting barrier, it is considered trespassing. When the animal is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, the animal is held for ransom. In case there is no ransom, the one who caught the animal is allowed by law to kill the animal and sell its meat to pay for the damages. Now consider this:
On the way to and from the feeding grounds, the flock of sheep often passes between vineyards and cultivated fields. In the path, sometimes there are more rocks than anything else. It is so easy, then, for a sheep to look over the wall and to think that that the luscious green stuff on the other side would certainly be better than rocks, dust, and the heat of the road.
So, it is not surprising that a sheep sometimes would find its way on the other side of the wall or fence - and get caught. When that happens, and the ransom is paid, the sheep is brought back to the flock that it wandered away from; thus, the sheep is restored to its own flock.
It’s a hard lesson for the sheep to learn, but the bad experiences on the other side of the fence teaches the sheep that its shepherd leads it along the right paths; and if it goes astray, it will pay the consequences of its actions. The sheep has to be conditioned by the shepherd to stay on the path along which the shepherd leads his flock.
When the shepherd pays the ransom for his sheep and thereby restores the sheep, he does so “for his name’s sake.” In other words, the shepherd’s reputation is at stake. If he is a good shepherd, his character is such that he cannot afford to just let it go or leave it alone and let come what may. No, the good shepherd swings into action and does the right thing by paying the ransom and restoring his wandering sheep.
In like manner, a child of God who wanders away from the good shepherd, soon learns – usually the hard way – that there is no wrong in the presence of the Lord our shepherd. So, the best course of action to stay on the right path along which our shepherd leads us.
The great shepherd of all of us who have gone astray redeems us from our disobedience and its consequences. He removes us from the wrong way. He removes that which is wrong from our lives; but in order for that removal to occur: we must repent of any wrong that we have done; we must return to the fold; we must resolve to place our trust, unreservedly, in the Lord our Shepherd.
Three parables told by Jesus speak of the joy that can be ours upon our repentance and our return to the fold of God:
One of the parables tells of a woman who lost a precious coin but then found it. She was so overjoyed at finding the lost coin that she invited all of her family and friends to rejoice with her. Jesus said there is rejoicing in heaven when one of God’s children is reunited with the heavenly Father.
Another parable tells about a precious son who left home, went to a far country where he squandered the resources that his father had given him to help his son make it on his own.
When the resources had run out, and the son had done nothing to establish himself, he became homeless and lived in poverty, with seemingly no way out; then he remembered the home he had left; so, he returned home, repented of his wrong doing, and was forgiven by his father.
I think a very important thing to notice about this story is that, upon the son’s return home, rather than turn the wayward son away, the father welcomed him with open arms and went so far as to throw a party to celebrate his son’s return. The father said he did this for one reason: “This, my son, was lost, but now is found.”
Jesus said that likewise there is rejoicing in heaven when one of God’s children repents, and returns to the heavenly Father.
The third parable Jesus told about the rejoicing that takes place when a person for whom Christ died repents and returns to God the Father is my favorite of all the parables – the parable of the lost sheep – Luke 15:3-7 . . .
Perhaps you have seen the painting of the shepherd cradling the lamb in his arms as he brings the sheep back to the fold after having found that which was lost. What a beautiful picture of how God loves you and me!
This parable has always meant so much to me because it was the basis for a sermon that was preached the night I received Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.
The evangelist dramatically told the story of the shepherd who cared so much for one lamb that he was willing to leave the ninety-nine-other sheep and risk his life to find the little fella and bring him to safety.
Then the evangelist described how Jesus was the good shepherd who cared so much for each one of us that He was willing to give His life for our salvation.
The evangelist suggested that: “in this congregation tonight there is someone who has been wondering if anyone cares about YOU; and now you know that God the Father is the great shepherd who cares about YOU just as the shepherd cared about his lost sheep.”
The evangelist concluded by saying, “God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants YOU to know that He loves YOU; and He wants YOU to know that He wants to be YOUR Father too. Come home tonight and let the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be YOUR Father too.”
With hesitation due to timidity, yet with a yearning in my heart to let God be my Father, I went forward that night to receive Christ as my own personal Savior.
God is my Father because His one and only Son is my one and only Savior; and when we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be!
One of the reasons for rejoicing will be our awareness that in the House of the Lord there is NO WANT . . . there is NO FEAR . . . there is NO WRONG because the Lord is our Shepherd!
Selah.
