Scripture text: John 10:1-29.His Sheep Know His Voice.
There are many voices begging to be heard and followed. These voices “…are of the world: therefore they speak of the world, and the world heareth them” (I Jn 4:5). Their messages are filled with things to gratify all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life ( I Jn 2:16). They are engulfed with spiritual darkness and have not the light of life, however most of humanity will blindly follow them on the broad way leading to destruction.
In the midst of the voices of confusion there is one lone voice speaking, sometimes thunderously and at other times as a still small voice, but always with clarity. It has called every human being who has ever lived upon the face of the earth, yet most have not answered the call. The message being uttered makes this voice unquestionably distinct from that of all other voices in the world. It has rang uncompromisingly true down through the annals of time to every generation as it calls to all, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (II Cor 6:17). This is the distinct voice of the Lord and all of humanity has heard it.
Jesus calls all of mankind out of darkness and into His marvelous light (I Pe 2:9). However, men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Their love for the world holds them fast with chains of darkness as they refuse to come to the light of the world. They hate the light because it illuminates and reproves their evil lifestyles; therefore, they reject the call to come into the marvelous light of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 3:19). His voice is heeded by the few who enter in at the straight gate and narrow way but neglected and dismissed as foolishness by the multitudes on the broad way to destruction.
In Ephesians 4:17-32 Paul describes those who are abiding in darkness and have rejected the call of God as the those who walk in the vanity of their mind whose understanding has been darkened. They are alienated from the life of God through ignorance because of the blindness of their heart and are past feeling and have given themselves over to their vices, uncleanness, and greed. He states the church is no longer to walk as the Gentiles. Seems reasonable that the church cannot continue to walk as they did since the Shepherd has called them out and to be separate.
The key verses of this passage illustrating the importance of knowing the Lord’s voice as it calls mankind to come out and be separate are Ephesians 5:21-22. We will break it down in three parts.
“But ye have not so learned Christ.” He instructs the church they have not learned from the men who have been given gifts by God (Eph 4:11), or from Christ that they can continue in their ungodly lifestyles in their former ignorance.
“… if so be ye have heard him, and have been taught by him” If indeed ye have heard and do know His voice and have allowed him to become your Shepherd; if indeed He is instructing you as you sojourn upon the earth, then you have an understanding that you can no longer live as you once did before hearing His voice.
“…as the truth is in Jesus” The specific truth in Jesus being referred to is acknowledged in the remaining verses of the chapter. They must put off the old man, who is corrupt according to deceitful lusts and put on the new man which after God (God’s own image) is created in righteous and true holiness. The old man once stood in the congregation of the dead clothed with sin and abiding in the darkness of an ungodly world, but he heard the voice of the Lord calling him out from among them. He dropped his rags of sin and fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before him leaving the world behind (Heb 6:18). He is now being conformed to the image of Christ who is the express image of God’s own person of whom we were all created but have come short of the glory with which we were created. Oh! Thank God for those who have heard His call and fled out of darkness and into His marvelous light!
“Many are called, few are chosen” (Matt 22:14). All are called out of this dark world but only those who heed the call are the chosen of God; they are the sheep of His pasture. Jesus goes before His sheep and they follow him; for they know His voice (Jn 10:4). It is impossible to be His sheep without detecting and following His voice as it teaches and guides. Those who claim to be a part of His fold but have rejected or dismissed His call to come out from among them and be separate are following the voices of confusion to their eternal destiny!
Christ’s voice is unmistakable as He calls for separation with promises to receive all who will come out from among them. Many are trying to stifle His voice by claiming to do so constitutes a salvation of works and that it is legalistic to beckon mankind to heed the call for worldly separation. But it is the One who wants to receive mankind who is doing the calling. With great desire He stretches forth His arm, which is mighty to save, and says come out of the darkness of this world. A failure to come out is to abide in sin and death awaiting the judgments of God Almighty. His Spirit works tirelessly and perfectly to convince all of sin, righteousness and judgment warning them to flee the wrath to come. Jesus draws mankind to Calvary to view the great price that was paid because they were perishing in their sin. He draws them there to find mercy and grace by awakening them to the fact the world is perishing and they are a part of that world and they must flee for refuge from the wrath of God. Those who are in opposition to His call are those whom the god of this world has blinded their minds and are using their voices to try to drown out the voice of the Savior.
Those who have heard and heeded the call listen intently to the voice that has called them out. They follow its instructions, which lead them to ever swelling mountains of joy with springs of living water where their feet are likes hind’s feet as they walk upon their high places on their journey to the celestial city. How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior as one is stepping in the light. The very first step toward the Lord is a step away from the dark environment of this wicked world and a tattered life of sin! As He calls and the first step is taken out of darkness, God translates those who heed into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col 1:13) and into His marvelous light. Hallelujah, what a thought Jesus full salvation brought. Who in their right mind would ever want to return to groping in the darkness of this world and wallowing in the mire of sin?
If the call for separation is never heeded, it will be impossible to determine which voice to follow in the not too distant future! The world is teetering on the brink of destruction and darkness prevails; yet there is a great light and a voice beckoning toward that light. It is calling all of mankind out of this world of despair and into a heavenly kingdom of hope and help. The hope we have fled to lay hold of will serve as an anchor of the soul in the tumultuous times ahead and His voice will be the comfort and guide we need to see us through. Listen as He calls today. Listen and heed the call for separation and hasten your steps toward His voice. It is mankind’s only hope!
