The Sheep on the Hills
W. Carl Ketcherside
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As a result, God declares that He is against these shepherds, and will hold them responsible, even requiring his flock at their hand. It is interesting to note that those who are called shepherds by Ezekiel (34), are called pastors by Jeremiah (23:1,2). He writes, "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord... Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord." It is apparent that God's sheep have been scattered by the very leaders to whom they looked for guidance and instruction.
Another factor in the production of the condition is the arrogant, proud and boastful attitude of the fattened members of the flock. They are depicted as pushing and thrusting with side and shoulder, and horning the humble and meek aside, until they are scattered abroad. They are charged, not only with eating the best pasture and drinking the pure water, but also with trampling the remainder into muck and mire, and fouling it and defiling it for the rest. This is an apt portrayal of religion in many places today, where the sheep are exploited by an official board, and forced to meet a budget they did not arrange, and subscribe to a program they did not originate. They must knuckle under or get out!
"My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; yea my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did seek or search after them." That is a picture of the flock today. They are wandering through the mountains and hills of sectarianism. They are separated and scattered because of neglect, abuse and cruelty, to which they have been subjected. This is not the will of God. It is his desire that they be together, that there be but one flock and one shepherd. He does not want them divided by partisanship or factionalism, but united in love and peace. They were scattered in "a cloudy and dark day" but a brighter day is coming.
God has designed that his sheep shall be brought out from the people, gathered from the countries, and restored to their own estate, where they shall be fed in a good pasture, upon the high mountains of faith and truth. There will the flock be safe under the supervision of one shepherd, the prince of David. They shall
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Our appeal goes forth to all of the scattered flock wandering over the hills which have been created by men. We would do our humble best to search and seek after every good and honest heart, "scattered upon the face of all the earth." Every person in the whole wide world who possesses such a heart is my brother -- either in prospect or reality! Those who have heard and learned, and come unto Christ, believing in Him, and demonstrating their faith by immersion into His death, are the sons of God. They are His children and my brethren, wherever they may be wandering as the result of the cloudy and dark day. Those who have not yet been immersed into our dear Lord, because of lack of knowledge, environment or teaching, need only to have the truth brought to bear upon their good and honest hearts, and they will also accept it.
We plead with all who believe in Jesus, and yet are divided from one another, to be no longer content with the meager pasturage upon the hills. The hand of God beckons on to the high mountains where is located the good fold. Salvation is not in the hills. It is not the wish of heaven that we should be divided in heart and spirit. Let us heal the breaches in Zion. Let us restore the good way and walk in it. Our dear Lord does not want those who believe in Him to be split into divers sects. Even small communities are often fractured into Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Roman Catholic fraternities. Those who compose these bodies all affirm that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. They do not deny a single fact connected with his personal ministry. They are divided over the interpretation they place upon these facts, or their opinions about them. It is true that God loves every one of them. It is true that Jesus died for every one of them. It is true that God wills that all of them shall be one. It is true that Jesus prayed they might be one. Is it true, then, that they can never answer that prayer? Is there no solution for the problem? Our appeal will never fall with favor upon the ears of those who love the party spirit, regardless of the party to which they are attached. Our appeal is directed to the good and honest hearts in all parties. Let us arise and return in spirit and in fact to Him who died for us all. Then shall we be a blessing as he has promised, "I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessings."
God has given us a revelation from heaven. It is a divine love letter to the whole world. If we love its author as we claim to do, let us labor to help fulfill His eternal purpose. Let us seek to unite in Him, and upon the basis He has given. It is later than you think! The world hovers on the brink of despair and destruction. We have but two alternatives. We must convert the world to Jesus, or the world will commit universal suicide. All that is essential to leading the world to believe that God has sent Jesus, is for those in the world who believe in Jesus to become one. This is His own blessed assurance. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for all them also who believe on me through their word; that they may all be one...that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
What would be the glorious results of such unity? Wars would cease and the rumble of cannons die away. The shrieks and groans of dying men upon the battle fields of the earth would be heard no more. The mighty energies of the universe would be expended in the betterment of all mankind. We could safely travel any place upon earth. Prejudice and hate would fade out. The desert would blossom like a rose. We would experience a true brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God.
In the face of such a benign prospect, how pale and insignificant are the doctrines and dogmas of men, the opinions and interpretations which rend and tear
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What can we do? Those of us who love the Lord more than men, who exalt his revelation above human rationalization, who seek to restore the one body in its primitive perfection, must seek to study together, to investigate, to question that we may know "the Way." Regardless of what party we may now be in, we must seek the ultimate destruction of all parties by merging through mutual acceptance of the truth, into the grand concourse of saints which will compose the one body. We must further our aim in love. "Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name" (Mal. 3:16). To help in my very feeble way, I offer to go personally to any synagogue, cathedral or church building, which I can reach, at home or abroad, and express my views on these issues, and submit to questioning at any length. I will respect those who differ and love their souls. I will listen to their views!
Brighter days are coming. A mighty army of earnest seekers after truth is being raised up all over the earth. Men are beginning to discard the shackles of slavery devised by human agency. The sheep on the hills are lifting their gaze to the high mountain peaks of safety. Men are examining their positions by the Book. The campfires of the pilgrims can be seen flickering all along the road to Jerusalem.
Let us here issue a word of warning. Let not those who are fortunate enough to have discovered the green pastures first, devour and tramp the residue with their feet. Let not those who have been drinking of the deep waters foul the pure stream by jealousy and bigotry. It is no time for those who have found certain great and abiding principles "to thrust with side and shoulder, and push the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad." Brethren, make room for them! Let them in! God's sheep are coming home from the hills! There is room on the mountain for every good and honest heart. God has reserved thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal! Longing eyes are looking upward, hungry hearts are turned heavenward. The sheep are starting to move toward the shepherd, for they have heard his voice again as it echoes amidst the hills! Don't stone them or beat them back with force and with cruelty. Let them come home to the fold of the prince of David. They are his sheep not yours!