All Sheep Have a Home!

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"  Mat 16:24-26

    Lately, I've been thinking of a group on facebook that goes by the name, "Sheep without a Home."  This group is filled with believers that are not a part of any gospel congregation, so they go online and try to find fellowship and spiritual nourishment amongst themselves and others.  After all, sheep are a gregarious sort, and they are fond of being around others that are like them.  This desire is natural for the believer. And if this desire is not present within an individual, they should wonder if they are even a sheep.  And like many still today, after coming to believe the truth of free and sovereign grace, and having been kicked out of one church, and voluntarily leaving another for the sake of truth, I too have identified as a sheep without a home.

    But I eventually did something about it and I re-located my family nearly 500 miles away so that they could be a part of a congregation that was faithful to the Gospel, and faithful to preach it.  However, this has not been without its difficulties.  For example, my employment and means of income is still at our old home town.   Additionally, our extended family and acquaintances at our old home did not move with us, so we still have obligations to others hundreds of miles away.  And we still have to make frequent trips back to our old home for errands and employment purposes.  The wear and tear on our bodies, our finances, our vehicles, and constant travel has not been easy.  I'm not complaining either as this has been nothing but a period of joy for us!  But nevertheless, it's still been difficult.  However, our lives are not meant to be easy!  The life of a believer is supposed to be attended with sacrifices, hardships, trials, and tribulations!  Where in the Scriptures are we told to make sure that our brief lives in this world are to be as comfortable as possible?  Did not Christ Himself say, "if any many will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me?"  (Mat 16:24)

    I realize there are some who are simply incapable of making such a sacrifice because they are in situations that are completely out of their control.  They have been tasked with caring for others that are bed-ridden, or their financial obligations are so steep that they cannot possibly make the sacrifice.  Oh I certainly understand and sympathize with these folks.  But there are many that simply will not make any sacrifice.  They are completely unwilling to move away from their creature comforts.  They are unwilling to re-examine some of their traditions, or rethink that Gospel church that is in their back yard that they won't visit because they believed some internet rumor about them.  And there are many that will not seek and serve the glory of our Lord above their own personal ambitions.

    The phrase, sheep without a home, simply does not sit well with me anymore.  And I mean this with no disrespect whatsoever to those who are a member of this group.  But depending on how you look at things, there are plenty of Gospel congregations and many folks are not willing to make the sacrifice that is necessary to be a part of one.  I can think of no more worthy cause to do without than the Gospel and to be around His sheep.   Truly whosoever will lose his life for Christ's sake shall find it (Mat 16:25).  So to you dear precious sheep who post on the internet, and claim not to have a home, my answer to you is this:  no, all sheep have a home.  It's just a matter of time before they are gathered.