A pastor told about seeing an interesting sight on a highway near Toronto, Canada. He saw a flock of about fifty sheep crossing the street on their way to the slaughterhouse. They had come to the stockyards from some peaceful country pasture. As they came down the gangway from the train car they were free to go in any direction, yet they took only one. They had no dogs to guide them. There was one man on the left and one man on the right, but they had very little to do. The flock of sheep kept going ahead across the yard, then across the highway right to the place of their death.
Here is the interesting thing. The sheep were not driven there. They were led. At the head of the flock was a large goat, trained to lead sheep to their death. He never stopped. He never turned his head. He walked straight across the yard and the highway, through the gate of the stockyards, with the whole flock following him; literally sheep being led to the slaughter.
The goat is called the Judas Goat. But it seems to me like it could have another name: Satan, because that is what Satan does today. He leads so many unthinking, uncaring people away, to lives of grief, pain and darkness. So many give it little thought or concern.
I pose two questions for us to consider today: WHO are we really following? WHERE does that path eventually lead?
My prayer is that our eyes will be opened and we will follow the One who said, "I am the Good Shepherd." (John 10:11)