The Last Sheep in

There, on the hillside, it's the figure of exhaustion. A sheep that has lost its way and could not get back to its flock. Its wool is dirty and in knots from the combined elements of bad weather and bad food.

It can barely move. Finally, its energy is spent, its hope is gone, and it lays down to die. But wait! There, up on the hill, appears the form of a figure, of a man.

It is the shepherd who's been out looking for the lost sheep. But this sheep is different from the others, for it is the last sheep in. There are no more sheep after this one is brought home.

The shepherd lays the weary sheep on his shoulders as he carries it home. But there sits a man on a corner barstool, sipping his beer. He is comfortable in that familiar setting, for it is here where he's spent his leisure time for years.

It's where his friends meet and socialize. It's a Sunday, and he's already sitting in a bar, waiting for a friend to come join him for lunch. He was invited by another friend to go to church today, but he didn't want to go hear a boring sermon.

So he's meeting his other friend at the bar. But as he sits there, stirring into his glass of beer, he sees something strange. He sees a black hole appear in the foam.

The hole gets bigger as he stares down at it, until he's looking down into hell itself. He sees a demon reach up to grab him. He sees his reflection in the liquid.

He is buried there, in hell. For years, his mother had prayed for him to become a Christian. She gave him a Bible.

She took him to church when he was little. She read him Bible stories as a lad, and sang hymns to him as a baby to get him to sleep. She was always a constant witness in his life, always praying for him until the day she died.

But he always pushed God and religion away. But suddenly, right now, he is looking down into hell, and he's under a great deal of conviction for sin. He's filled with dread over the condition of his soul.

He pushes the glass away from him, and hangs his head on his folded arms on the bar countertop. And there, he begins to pray. He begs God for mercy, admits he is a sinner, and places his faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he has long heard about for years.

He is the last sheep in. There are no more. The day of grace has ended for this perishing world.

As this last sheep comes in and embraces a shepherd, a noise of alarm is heard from heaven. It's a rumbling sound like a ferocious thunderclap about to break upon the land. And what was once prophecy now becomes reality as heaven itself opens.

As a shout is made, a trumpet is blown, and a host descends, trailing the dread Christ of the second coming. For the last sheep is in when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire. Taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.

Listen to me, friend. These are the end times. These are the very last days.

There's a day fast approaching where people won't be able to get saved anymore. Once Christ returns, the day of grace is over, and it's judgment time. There's no hope or mercy in hell, only punishment for the damned who cry there day and night.

Right now, there is still mercy, and grace is free. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Friend, if you've not trusted this blessed Savior, receive him now before it's too late.

Soon, he will come in judgment on this world when his anger shall burn as an oven, and then you shall meet him as your judge. Repent before it's too late.