Vain Wandering

1 Peter 2:25

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Have I withdrawn from my Shepherd to look for greener pasture not knowing there is none? Have I not realized the silliness and stupidity of going astray and wandering away from His presence? How enticing Satan's wiles and snares are. How captivating to the eyes, how tickling to the ears, how ravishing to the imagination! But in reality these seemingly delightful representations of wealth and beauty are nothing but trinkets that will turn to dust when fire devours them. The seducers with their beguiling words, the false friends, they are nothing but rotting stinking corpses dressed in the finest of garments, adorned with the most expensive embellishments. They are perishable things and people perishing from their sins.

Have I not thought that deserting my Shepherd even for a second grieves Him? In no time He will begin to look for me from every nook and cranny of the wild mountains and hills? With His staff He will catch me to protect me from the ravening wolves, or to prevent me from falling into the ravine? When he finds me torn and exhausted and slumped in misery, He will gently pick me up to lay upon His shoulder to bring me home?

Don't I realize how precious I am to God? From the gutter, dead in sin, His Holy Spirit picked me up and quickened me? From His wrath I am justified by His Son Jesus' death on the cross?

John 10:28

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” 

“Blessed Savior, to whom can I go but unto You? The wandering sheep may turn scornfully from its restoring shepherd; the eagle may cling to its ignoble cage, and despise its rocky fastnesses; the prodigal may mock a parent's pleas and recklessly cling to his foreign home and beggar's fare; the thirsty pilgrim may turn with averted head from the gushing stream; but You alone the unfailing Portion, You alone the unchanging Friend, let me never be guilty of the ingratitude of forgetting or forsaking You!

‘Let me Your power, Your beauty see,
So shall my vain aspirings cease,
And my free heart shall follow Thee
Through paths of everlasting peace.
My strength, Your gift, my life, Your care,
I shall forget to seek elsewhere
The joy to which my soul is heir.’” ~John MacDuff

"Return, O wanderer, return!
And seek an injured Father's face;
Those warm desires that in you burn,
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
"Return, O wanderer, return!
Your Savior bids your spirit live;
Go to his bleeding side, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
"Return, O wanderer, return!
Regain your lost, lamented rest;
Jehovah's melting affections yearn
To clasp his Ephraim to his breast."~William Collyer