John 10:1-10

Did you ever see the dog trials on TV where the shepherd or farmer whistles constantly to guide his or her dog so that the dog ferries the flock of sheep into the sheep fold? I found it amazing because it was almost unbelievable that an animal could learn to respond to whistles like that and that one animal could ensure that a group of others ended up where the farmer wanted them to go!

It also used to make me laugh when just one sheep decided they were not going to do as the dog wanted and then the whole flock were either split or they all went past the entrance to the pen! The poor farmer went whistle crazy and the poor dog didn't know where to start - whether to concentrate on the ones in the fold or to chase after the ones that were now scattered across the field!

The problem seemed to be when that one sheep decided to miss the opening to the fold and go their own way - then another sheep followed in confusion and then they were all scattered and unsure about where they were going. What the sheep didn't realise was that if they all went into the pen together, then they would be safe and get all the love and care that they needed. This was a much better option than bolting off to another unknown field just because they didn't feel like co-operating or it seemed more interesting. The farmer actually knew what was best for them but they didn't understand that.

I think that a lot of people are just like sheep. That's not to say they are not intelligent or that they just do what everyone else does, but they are often given this opportunity to walk through the gate (by knowing Jesus) into the pen (to receive life in all its fullness) and yet something else tempts them that's just that bit different, that draws them away from walking through the gate on a daily basis.

You might say: "Well actually I already am a Christian so I've walked through that gate, and you're preaching to the converted!" But I believe we have an option every day to walk through that gate or back out of it. The text today says that Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness, yet we still crave for other things don't we? Jesus calls us daily into security with Him and life in abundance - that doesn't mean a life that's OK, or mediocre: it means life in ALL ITS FULLNESS. Not easy or simple necessarily, but a life full of challenges and excitement, that only Jesus can help us to achieve and get to grips with.

Why is it then that we still allow outside influences to lead us away from the gate that leads to life in abundance? In today's society so much is on offer isn't it, that makes it easy to turn away from the road that we know deep down, God would have us follow: What happens when the going gets tough?

We all react in different ways: some are more harmful than others: we may turn to alcohol; we may take drugs; we may immerse ourselves in work; we may go exercise mad; we may shut the door and become a recluse; we may have a series of one night stands that leave us feeling bewildered, guilty and more lonely than ever; we may over eat or not eat at all; we may play computer games continually so we don't have to face reality; some of these things may not be bad in themselves but if they stop us from walking through the gate that gives us life in abundance, then they can't be right for us surely can they?

As Christians who have indeed walked through the gate that leads to life in all its fullness at some time or another, I'd like to think that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. In other words, when life throws us a stink bomb, I hope that we would still choose to walk the walk that Jesus has chosen for us because the promise is that we will have life in all its fullness, and that we won't be drawn away from the life that Jesus has called us to by taking an easy way out to forget about what we are called to be and do.

We all have something that draws us away from walking through that gate that leads to life in all its fullness every day. Each of us has a weakness that can stop us from choosing to go through the gate into the fold where we can be safe, secure and receive life in abundance. The problem is that it's not at all easy.

The temptations outside of our Christian faith are many fold and very, very appealing. Perhaps what we need to ask ourselves is this: Do we really feel that these other alternatives are giving us life in all its fullness, or are they just tiny opportunities to opt out of our responsibilities as Christians for a while?

We do have difficult choices to make every day. But let us ask ourselves: Will our choice be life in all its fullness with Christ at the helm, or a quick fix of something to take the pain away momentarily? As Elaine always says to me (when she has a voice): Jesus never said it would be easy, but He did say it would be worth it. Amen.