Friday, December 18, 2009

Oily Skin

“And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 1:8-11).

Many of us think of sheep as nice furry animals that are cute and cuddly. But a sheep’s coat is filled with natural oils that serve as a magnet to dirt and grime. Sheep are not pleasant to touch in the outdoors. During Biblical times shepherds lived in the fields with their flocks for months at a time. The shepherds’ skin absorbed the smell of the sheep. Let’s just say it would not be used as a base for perfume. Yet it was to these men that the angels appeared with the news of a Savior.

We are like shepherds soaked in the aroma of the world. We follow one another into dangerous territory, will jump off a cliff if we think everyone else is doing it and generally do not make wise decisions. If that sounds like a cruel description, pick up a newspaper or watch a news program. It is no accident that God refers to his people as sheep.

God created us as beautiful beings to worship him, but we have covered ourselves in sin. The good news is that our Father sent us a Savior to remove the oily residue of the field so that we can become the soft wool of a cleansed sheep (Isaiah 1:18).