Several years ago, when the Lord
began calling me to His service and I was still ignorant about much of the
things of God, I was constantly having the phrase “It’s Time to Gather my
Sheep” going through my head. I was sure it was from the Lord, but I also knew
I had to check if it was truly from God. The bible warns us to be careful and
check the spirit of the message. If it was truly the Holy Spirit speaking to
me, it would be affirmed by the words in the Bible.
Soon after, as I was reading the
bible, I came across this verse in Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth
not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is
lost, until he find it?” Other
verses referred to the sheep knowing the Shepherd’s voice, the Shepherd
watching over the flock, etc. I began to feel an earnest push to speak to those
who proclaimed to be Christian, but may be back sliding or straying, to return
to the flock, as time was running short.
This also brought up the
question, ‘Why was time running short?” Was Jesus returning very soon? Was the
end of the world upon us? There was so much I did not know, or misunderstood,
about Eschatology and was caught up in the “left behind” craze because I was
hungry for the truth. But the truth is not found in “fantasy” books or many TV
preachers. The truth is found only in study of the bible, and rejecting any
writings that contradict the bible. So what is the meaning of “Gather my Sheep,
Time is Short?”
Due to the study of my bible and
competent writers over the ages, I believe that we have been in the last days
since Jesus returned to Heaven. Remember God does not count time as we do.
Jesus established His Kingdom in each of us and reigns as our Lord and King
until he calls the believer home. The bible does give us a few hints as to the
closeness of His return to gather us, but not a day or year. After several years
of thinking about this message I can see a great falling away from the faith
beginning. I see very quickly how the church, or bride, is being infiltrated
with false teachings, immoral lifestyles, and an acceptance of a spirit of
anti-Christ that was preached against since Paul’s time.
Seven
years of waiting on the Lord has been trying, but rewarding. Trying because I
wanted to get on with what I thought the Lord wanted, and rewarding because I
am starting to “see through the mirror darkly” of what God really wants me to
do. Of course it was not what I thought He wanted. Is it ever?
Through bad times, persecution
and trials, God has always had a remnant. Check your bible; see how the message
continued from the Garden of Eden until today. We are headed into dark times as
Christians. Not necessarily the end of the world, but who knows? Only God
knows. But we have a responsibility to not only spread the gospel, but go after
our lost and straying sheep by preaching the hard as well as the easy truths of
being holy and saved. I am a representative of the King. You are a
representative of the King. That is why the Lord has burned Ephesians 6:20 into
my soul “For which I am
an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” If you love others then please begin to gather the sheep, the time
is short!
