I remember a few years ago my wife and I and a couple of our friends were enjoying some exploration time on the Western slope near Rifle. (for those of you not from Colorado, that’s here in my home state) We were driving up a dirt road canyon and happened upon a couple of men (and their dog) keeping watch over their flock of sheep.
The flock took over the road, and we didn’t mind.
We found it so interesting we just pulled over and watched them herd on by. As the first shepherd walked by I asked him where they were heading, and it was another town quite a few miles away. We were surprised that sheep would still be herded that old-fashioned way in this day and age.
But the guy told us it was more common than we might think. We just thought it was cool to watch the cute, little sheep walking down the gravel road making their baa baa sheep noises. Somewhere in the crowd we could hear the metal clanging of what I would normally call cowbells…but since these were sheep I guess they were sheep bells.
It was a real treat.
And I’ll have to go through my old digital videotape files and see if I have any footage of that day. If so, I’ll share it with you.
Today, when I recalled that experience, I began to imagine what it would be like if those same guys were keeping watch over their flock and were suddenly faced with a glowing angel who said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good tidings of great joy.”
They might start thinking “what in the world…”, but before they can even finish the question a whole host of angels appears singing and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Whoa! What would you do? Fall down on your knees? Run? Shout and jump for joy? It’s hard to imagine what I might do if it happened to me. But I believe I’d be real curious to discover what they were talking about and how and why this happened.
Well, about 2,000 years ago some other shepherds were keeping watch over their flock of sheep when that very scenario occurred. And after the host of angels left them and went back into Heaven they decided to follow a guiding star to Bethlehem to find out more.
They discovered a man and his wife spending the night in a livestock pen with their newborn Baby in a manger. And for some strange reason, the shepherds believed what they were told about this Child.
He was God in the flesh.
All these years later, we’re still talking about that Person born in a manger. And the history of the world revolves around His life.
Can you imagine how awesome it would have been to be there that night? Well, something that will be even more awesome and glorious will be to live in Paradise forever getting to know that Person we Christians call Jesus. He came to earth as a real human baby…grew into a real human man…suffered a real human death and resurrected after 3 days…all because He loves us.
Since I don’t see myself as all that lovable, it does my heart good to re-read the story from time to time. And at this Christmas time of year, it’s particularly good to share it with others. I hope you will too.
Stay tuned,
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