Night clung stubbornly at the horizon, shrouding the rugged countryside with intense darkness. Only within the Mission was there light, and soon that disappeared as the minister blew out the lamps and came walking out to join his family, who, with a number of friends and relatives, were waiting for him.

When all left the Mission that dark and dreary night in late October, it was still foggy and misty with only the outline of trees on either side of the road to guide the little group. Soon all arrived at the one spot that every young child dreaded to pass, especially after dark. It was told that an old lady had been buried there in the graveyard of a very ancient family. No one had to remind any child to draw near to his or her parents when he had to pass the grave of Aunt Jane--the old witch, as many called her.

Consequently, as every youngster in the neighborhood had always feared would happen, here it was, for the first time, the voice of Aunt Jane's. And, unfortunately, as one might guess, it was not only children who were frightened by what was heard, but parents as well. No one, young or old, could deny the fact that a disturbing noise of some kind was surely coming from the vicinity of Aunt Jane's grave, which happened to be a short distance from the roadside. Useless to say, not one person cared to make an investigation, that is, until an old man came along who owned a flock of sheep not far away.

Now, to the surprise of the few who were brave enough to be lingering, reluctantly, this old shepherd, with the tapping of his rod muffled by the soft earth, edged his way past the frightened group of figures, left the road, and walked out fearlessly into the direction from which this troublesome noise was coming. No one could see his figure after he stepped away from the crowd. His steps, however, could be heard, and then they ceased, leaving everyone awe-stricken; then, all of a sudden, the ghostly noise became strong and clear. It was the cry of one of the shepherd's little lambs which had strayed from the fold during the day and had fallen into an old, unkempt grave, from which this old herdsman had reached down and pulled out the little lamb. Indeed, my reader, the true owner of that small and lost lamb had found that which surely belonged to him, and he had rescued it.

Suddenly, like a flash, there came out of the rubbish of memory these words from an old familiar hymn:

Strange as it may seem, the minister that night had chosen to read this passage of Scripture: "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day" (Ezek. 34:12).

Reader, do you happen to be the counterpart of the little lamb in our story? Has the Spirit you received been muffled by life's dreary fog and damness? Have you strayed from the fold of God? Are you crying to get help and to be rescued from some grave of sin? Are the people of the church passing you by? They were doing this to the bleating of the little lamb that had fallen into the grave. Only the aged shepherd knew his voice.

Child of God, don't give up because the church has left you in the grave of insecurity and want of assurance. The true Shepherd is, this very minute, listening for your sincere and plaintive cry. Will you entreat a little more with intensity? Cry out to your Shepherd in the language of the Spirit you received long ago. Never mind the church folk. Of course, they are afraid of your shout for help. The truth may be that they have never fallen into a dark, wet cave; therefore, they are not in a position to pull a fallen lamb out of a grave of distress and agony.

When the Spirit of God presses one of His lambs to cry aloud, it frightens many of God's undiscerning children. They think it's Aunt Jane's ghost or some type of nervous disorder or emotionalism. Speaking from the viewpoint of personal experience, I know that "Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep," knows the cry of His own, and He will never fail to come to their call, let it be night or day.

We know that He is "the good Shepherd," who gave His life for the sheep. A shepherd who is hired will not do this; but, to the contrary, he will take pay for his service, and yet he will flee when the wolf of misfortune and trouble comes to the flock. Saint John stated this in the following words: "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep" (John 10:12,13).

No more tremendous words were ever uttered than those in the preceding two verses of Saint John. The validation behind them lies chiefly in two directions, the way Jesus cared for His disciples, and the death He suffered for them. We may truthfully say, never man backed up what he taught like Christ, our never-failing Shepherd. No sooner do we speak of His preeminent claim as Chief Shepherd for Himself than we are compelled to extol His humility. The Apostle Paul said He "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant." Was this the secret weapon whereby He defeated "the prince of this world"? Surely we need the answer to this question, since our strength lies in the solution of the problem. To say the least, when one humbles oneself for Christ's sake, one is raised up with power and faith.

Certainly no passage of Scripture is more appropriate for this devotional message than these words of Saint Peter: "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls" (1 Pet. 2:25). Yes, dear reader, I trust that "when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Pet. 5:4).

In conclusion, may I urge you to join me in looking "for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." It is the Apostle Paul, who informs us that "we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 5:1).