Sheep & Goats

I went to a Livestock auction in Lee City, KY last night with my brother-in-law. We're both looking into getting some goats and we were told that goats are auctioned off every Monday night at the Lee City Livestock Auction.

It was an interesting experience. There were, of course, cows (the main attraction), and pigs, but the goats and sheep had to be the most interesting of them all. As Quinn and I observed the goats and sheep, we couldn't help but think of the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:32-33, "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." In this passage, sinners are compared to goats while saints are compared to sheep (also see John 10:1-30 for more on this comparison).

As we observed the goats and sheep at this livestock auction, the reason behind these comparisons in Matthew 25 became apparent to both of us.

The goats were a wild and raucous bunch. They were constantly fighting, running and trying to mate. When you'd reach your hand in to try to touch them, they'd often look at you with death in their eyes. Goats are known for being stubborn and wily, resistant to authority, independent and mischevious. I've heard stories of them escaping from the pasture, jumping on the hoods of cars, tugging against the lead rope, butting and knocking down little children, attacking their masters, and so on. These goats at the livestock auction were not all necessarily violent, but they were clearly the stereotypical stubborn goats that you hear about.

The sheep, on the other hand, were more gentle. They seemed to stick together and not once did I see them getting into mischief. They didn't challenge the goats on the other side of the bars. Really, they seemed very timid.

Sheep are interesting creatures. They're actually kind of "dumb" and I've heard that they'll do nothing when a predator attacks the flock...they just stand there and get killed. But despite their lack of intelligence, they are absolutely dependent upon the shepherd. Where He leads, they follow. They come running at the sound of his call and are really quite helpless without His protection and guidance. Again, goats are stubborn and resist the shepherd, but sheep are humble and needy.

Too many people are like goats. They may revel in their independence and individuality, and they may enjoy their little escapades out of "the pasture" (in sin). They may feel powerful and self-confident when they resist the leadership and guidance of a loving Shepherd, but in the end, as Matthew 25 indicates, they will be separated from the rest of the flock and destroyed in hell.

Really, we need to be like sheep. We need to give up our own will and submit to the Shepherd's hand. We must recognize our total dependence upon Him by seeking His will in the Bible, studying it daily and applying it to our lives. Others may look at us as weak, dumb, naive, etc...but we can rest assured that in the end, we will be accepted by the Lord.

Which are you?

Are you the stubborn, self-reliant, mischevious goat?

Or, are you the humble, submissive sheep, wholly dependent on the Shepherd, Jesus Christ?