Hearing The Voice of God In The Midst of a Storm

[Dr. Christopher D. Handy]

Life trials seem to sometime bring us to the point of despair and hopelessness, but the words of God, God voice can calm the storms of life. They can change a negative situation into something positive and encouraging. In St. John 10:27-28 Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” To those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this statement made by Him, will undoubtedly bring them assurance, confidence, and everlasting joy.
These verse commences with the word “My” Jesus’ use of this word is to stress the fullness of His authority obtained from the Father, as He said to His disciples, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” as stated in Matthew 28:18.
In our world, if you don’t like what you hear, you can change the channel, change Church, and change the people you are associated with. The temptation is to listen to something else, to follow someone else, often without considering the cost, you see while there is much in the world to listen to and to follow. Only in Jesus do we find the words of eternal life. My sheep hears my voice, and I give unto them eternal life, and the lost sheep are lead to the slaughter. It’s just not that simple, the question is where do you want to be?
Once we have attained the blessings of being called “His” by Jesus, we are then titled as “sheep”. We may ask, why is Jesus relating His followers to an animal? The term “sheep” used by Jesus, determine the intention of the word and the characteristics of the type of animal used. In Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah prophecy Jesus “as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer's is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” John the Baptists in St. John 1:29 referred to Jesus as “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” 1 Peter 1:19, Peter identifies the blood of Christ to that of a “lamb without blemish and without spot.”
By examining these terms, we now have an understanding of the term used by Jesus, relating it to humbleness, purity and obedience. We can appreciate the fact that those who Jesus calls “His” He is also identifies the same way as He himself has been identified by Gods’ chosen people. We must be recognized by Jesus to be “His” He said that in John 14:15 that we must “love Him and keep His commandments.” Those who will believe, accept and trust in Jesus are recognized to be His. His to be bless, His to enjoy peace and harmony, His to be ready to endure the burden of the cross, and His to be made successors of eternal life.
There is a choice, and it is simple, whose sheep are we? I’m not saying that you will be perfect, and I’m not saying that sin doesn’t matter, what I’m saying that every day, in what we think, do, and say we are answering the question, whose sheep we are. We struggle, we are tempted, we often fail to listen to our Savior and to follow where he leads, but we keep coming back to him, because no where else can we find the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation that is ours in Jesus Christ.
The real story is not what we do, but what our Savior does as often as we wander, it is he who find us, who carries us, who brings us to a safe place, and that is how we come to know how much he loves us. And in the end, that is why we follow, not because the law says we must, not because we are afraid of sin and death, but because we trust our Savior, we know the quiet waters and green pastures he provides, and we are thankful for the forgiveness and life we have been given in his name.
God is speaking to us and saying hold on don’t give up, help is on the way. Hold on and be strong, keep the faith. Don’t give up, help is on the way, those words should be words of comfort for us as Christians. As long as we trust Jesus Christ and listen to his words Help is on the way.

©By: Rev. Christopher D. Handy