The metaphor of a lost sheep can help us to understand the original sin. Eve was the first sheep to go astray. She was in a perfect relationship with God when she willfully chose to leave that perfect life and believe a lie–that she could become like her Shepherd. Because Eve believed she could take care of herself, she turned her back on the intimate love and care of her Shepherd and went her own way—with disastrous consequences.
While in Israel making the feature video, The Soul Shepherd, I filmed this video clip of a sheep in the very act of “going astray”. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and capturing on film! After I got home and reviewed the footage, it hit me, “This sheep didn’t get its foot caught and so couldn’t keep up with the rest of the flock. No! It purposely ran away!” And then, the next wave of realization hit me, “What this straying sheep looks like to me, I look like to God when I choose to believe that I know best for myself”. The “greener pasture” I think I’m heading toward—it’s a lie.
Too often our relationship with God can feel like a continual struggle between “the Lord is my Shepherd” or “I am my shepherd”. And while the world is full of “the lost”, we must keep in mind that the lesson of a straying sheep is primarily to the Christian.
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)
We are sheep. We are His sheep. We are sheep that have the ability to turn our own way—to disaster.
Lord, we desire to follow you and not experience the disastrous consequences of going our own way. Give us discernment to recognize “the lie” when it calls us to follow our own way. Strengthen us to listen to You, to trust You and to follow You in sincere and pure devotion. Amen
Blessings,
Joel
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