Don't Talk to Strangers

Everyone knows that for years, parents have been saying the same things to their children: "Don't talk with your mouth full"; "Don't touch that"; "No recreation until your chores are done"; "I want you home before dark." Sometimes parents even say, "This is the last time I'm going to tell you!" - and we all know what that means. We know these sayings are common among parents because we were children once and we remember hearing them. We also know that as parents, we hear ourselves saying these same things.

Some of the instructions parents give their children are for the sake of teaching proper social behavior. Others involve respect and responsibility. And then there are the most important teachings - those that change their children's lives and often save them from harm.

One such saying is used by parents almost every time one or more of their children leave the home without them - "Don't talk to strangers." This is especially for the younger children, who have not yet learned about the evils that abound in the world and who they should trust. There is a special, caring love that comes from the heart of a mother or father that inspires them to offer these words. Only one who has sacrificed so much for the life of a child can truly understand the feelings behind this command.

Considering the sacrifice that our Lord was willing to make for us, is there any wonder why Jesus gave this very same command to the Jews in John 10:5? The main emphasis of the text is found in two statements from Jesus, "I am the door of the sheep" and "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:7,11). Jesus reveals that He is the only way that leads to abundant life (10:10). In this verse, our Savior also warns that there is a thief lurking about that wants to steal, kill and destroy. This image represents strangers whose false doctrines lead people away from the true shepherd and toward eternal destruction. Just as a parent warns a child not to listen or talk to strangers, so Jesus tells His sheep to only trust in Him for safety and eternal reward (10:7).

Why then are there so many people in our world today that claim to be sheep yet believe and listen to plans of redemption and schemes of doctrine that in no way come from the only true shepherd, Jesus Christ? How troubling it is that there is pasture available all around us, and still we fail to feed on the Word that leads us to it (John 10 9). We need to remember that Jesus also promised that one day He would come again and separate the sheep to His right hand and deliver them into eternal life (Matt. 25:33,46)? Who then will these sheep be? Only those who fled from strangers and listened to the voice of the Shepherd will receive the reward. Do you know the Shepherd? Have you listened to Him? Will you follow Him?

"And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers" - John 10:4,5.