But something must have happened. James was not a happy boy now but a scowling teenager, angry at everyone who would not let him have his own way. He was in the courtroom now, facing the judge whose responsibility was to keep young people under control.
It was not James’ first time in trouble. Putting him behind bars had only made him worse. This time the judge suggested a discussion with the chief parole officer every day. The judge knew this officer and trusted him.
Bill, the parole officer, was a Christian and prayed often for his men. He studied their backgrounds as one who really cares. And so he studied James’ background. He knew that James had been a Sunday school boy, and the Scriptures were not new to him. He saw the boy underneath the scowls, and he began their talk with, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
“No,” said James. “I want lots of things.”
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”
“No! I don’t want to lie down in green pastures. . . . I don’t want still waters. I want excitement!”
James was becoming agitated as he voiced his rebellious attitude. But Bill went quietly on.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”
James was silent.
“Throw that away too?” asked Bill. “No . . . death is too serious.”
It may be that you have been told that death is beautiful and just brings you into joy and peace and flowers. Or maybe you have been told that death is the end; there is nothing after death, so why worry? But when he was little, James had learned the Word of God, and down in his conscience he knew that after death he must meet God.
Yes, death is serious. God says so. Those beautiful words in Psalm 23 tell us that in the face of death, “I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.” But this is not the first verse. It begins with, “The Lord is my shepherd.” If He is not your shepherd, then you cannot claim the peace that “I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.” And you cannot claim the joy and comforts “in the house of the Lord forever.” If the Lord Jesus is not your Shepherd, heaven will not be your future home. If you reject the thought of Him being your Shepherd and are choosing your own way, God warns that the end of that way is an eternity in hell.
It was Bill who told me this story, and I cannot tell you what happened to James. But my concern right now is . . . what will happen to you? Are you one of the Lord Jesus’ own sheep? He loves you and has given His life for you. Will you begin right now by saying, “Yes, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want’ ”? And if He is truly your Shepherd, you may have the joy and happiness every day of following Him and knowing that heaven will be your future home.
Have you memorized Psalm 23? It is only six verses long. Verse one will be the memory verse only for the very young children. Children a little older can memorize more of the verses and perhaps the entire six. How many verses can you memorize?
Psalm 23
1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 “He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
ML-10/03/2004