The Chief Shepherd of Us All

Written by Charlie Brackett
Monday, 07 February 2011 00:00

The apostle Peter, himself an elder of the Lord's church, admonished all elders after him to "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (1 Peter 5:2-4) Our shepherds lead us in the Way the Chief Shepherd has directed for it is the only way to eternal bliss and happiness after this life is done. Our Lord pointed the Way when He was here on earth. Consider His words in this article by Charlie Brackett:

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:1-6

The Lord begins this section of instruction to His disciples with the words, "Let not your heart be troubled." He is about to summarize man’s purpose on earth and to give reason for hope, consolation, and peace with which we can face the greatest adversity that men can devise. If we fill our lives with these words, we also will have untroubled hearts in the face of whatever Satan hurls. Listen. "Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going."

Consider what this means. God and His Son are real. Heaven is real. God lives amidst heaven's grandeur. Jesus has gone to be with Him and to prepare for our coming to live with them. There is a home there for you. And one for me. The Lord will come again, to receive us and to take us there to be with Him and with the Father that we might always be with them. And, finally, are you ready for this? though we have never been there, we know the way! All of His disciples do!

If that thought puzzles you, don't feel alone. Thomas also was puzzled. He said, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Listen carefully to the Lord's answer. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Jesus is the way. Anyone who knows Him knows the way. More than that, He is the goal. Perhaps you want to ask, "What do you mean?" Often the Lord stressed that He and the Father were one. To believe in the Son is to believe in the Father. To see the Son is to see the Father. Over and over Jesus has shown us through John's pen that He is the truth, the word of God. He is the light of the world. He is God. Over and over He has demonstrated that He is life and has power over death. To believe in Him is to believe in God. To believe in Him is to follow the way of truth, to be in light and to have communion with divinity. To believe in Him is to have eternal life. He is both the way and the goal.

Let me ask you, do you believe in God? Believe in Him, and He will have for you a mansion in the midst of the grandeur of heaven. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and you will be on the road to that mansion. Follow Him by obeying His commands, and you will partake of eternal life. Yes, believe it! You can commune with God!

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