p. 1 | Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 27, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 21.

Editorial

By Editor

The Good Shepherd.—Jesus Christ is "the good Shepherd;" he is the one who laid down his life for the sheep. He left his own home of comfort and glory, and came to this world's lone, barren mountains of sin to seek and save the lost ones.

"Home of comfort," did we say? No, it was not, is not, comfort while the sheep were lost. He is infinite love, and love is pained with the pain of others. "In all their afflictions"—the afflictions of Israel—his flock—"he was afflicted;" and this is an eternal truth; for He is "the same yesterday, to-day, and forever." And as a good shepherd of earth could not rest content in sheltered home while members of his flock were astray on the wild, bleak moor or in the desolate, prey-seeking mountains, so the heart of the Good Shepherd could not rest in comfort while poor, sin-sick souls were wandering in the wilds of earth, subject to the fierce wolves of sin and the bleak, cold moors of eternal death.

He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His voice. John 10:3, 4.

He does not wait to find others to go. Out into the cold, starless night he plunges alone, willing to meet all that awaits him, only so that he saves the lost. He does not count the danger. Neither does he seek to arouse the lion in his den, nor the tiger in his lair. But he does not fear them; his mission is to save. And so he comes, and seeks, and suffers, and meets lion, and bear, and cold, and heat, and want, and strife, till at last he lays down his life, that he may save the lost one. Infinite love finds more comfort in the sacrifice that wins one soul than in the selfish comfort which is indifferent to the wants of others.

The Lesson which the Lord would teach to every lost soul is that there is hope. He thus brings salvation full and free. Sinner, you are the lost sheep; and that means every soul of man by nature. You are in the wild mountains, surrounded by beasts of prey, footsore, weary, disheartened, worthless, ready to die; yet the Good Shepherd sees you, and over the rough, hard way you went, he seeks you. In his great sacrifice he took upon himself your nature, bore your sins, suffered your woes and pains, endured your temptations, and all to save you.

Will You Not Be His Sheep?—It only means that you will follow him—no more than this, no less. When he lived a man, he submitted to the Father's will. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me." John 4:34. He said this by the shepherd king of Israel before he came: "Lo, I come; . . . I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Ps. 40:7, 8. God's will is therefore his holy law, and in this law Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, delighted, because it was in his heart. His heart was in harmony with the law; he was submitted to its every precept. All who in Christ submit to that same law are members of Christ's flock. He counts them as his very own.

"He Goeth before Them."—Mark his loving care. Altho they are in the world, meeting its temptations, altho seemingly thrust out from home and friends, they are not alone; he goeth before them. How unlike many of the false shepherds of earth who endeavor to drive the flock of God! They seem to have obtained their conception of a shepherd from the west, where sheep are driven, oftentimes by dogs. But the true, oriental shepherd, from whom our Lord draws his illustration, does not drive his flock; he leads, he goes before, he goes with. He does not even send us alone; he says, "Follow me."

"He leadeth me, O blessed thought!" Every step of the way is marked by his footprints. He has met every trial, conquered in every temptation. He takes us over no strange ground to him. "He knoweth the way that I take." He walks with us in the way.

"My Sheep Hear My Voice."—His sheep are those who follow him in submitting with entire and willing surrender to "the will," "the law," "the commandments," the "good-pleasure" of the all-wise God. That law was spoken from heaven by the voice of God (Deut. 5:22); by Christ, the Sent of God; for he is the Word "by whom are all things" (1 Cor. 8:6). While therefore the voice which spoke God's unchangeable law was the voice of God the Father, it was also the voice of God the Son. The law of God is preëminently the voice of the great Shepherd of the sheep, the one unchangeable voice. He who knows that voice knows that by which all other voices may be tested. When the heart is submitted to God's law, the whole being is attuned to his nature. His Son speaks in harmony with that law; and his apostles and messengers bear a message in harmony with that law; so that if one hears Christ, they will hear his servant. John 15:20. His Spirit will lead and teach in harmony with that, for that law is "the law of the Spirit of life." Rom. 8:2.

What a Babel of voices there now is! "Lo, heres," and "Lo, theres," are heard on every side, and multitudes are deceived. Many are led by men. Others suppose they are led by the Spirit of Christ when it is the spirit of

antichrist, because it leads away from God's law and Christ's life. Still others walk in the imagination of their own heart, and think they are following God. They are deceived. Would we test them?—'To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.' Isa. 8:20. Our Lord teaches the same truth: 'Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.' Matt. 7:21. God would have us so know his voice that we neither shall be deceived by others or in ourselves.

The Good Shepherd.—Follow him. He will never forget us, and until we reject him forever, he will not leave us. Even in his rod of discipline, there is comfort. In the valley of the shadow of death there is no cause to fear. He will lead us all the way, and bring us to Zion. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He says: 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.' 'When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.' 'And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.' 'I am the Good Shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father.' Blessed Shepherd, indeed! Who would not follow him?