It seems wrong but maybe we need to undertake this task. Jesus, in (Matthew 25:31-46 NIV), talks of His return and that at that time He will separate the sheep from the goats. I am not Jesus and I will not be returning in glory with all the angels but right now I think the task of separating the sheep from the G.O.A.T.s might be a good approach to refocussing my life on true Christ following rather than the hype of the modern day Christianity. In our western civilization and its distorted version of Christian values, we must hit reset by separating the idea that aiming to be recognized and rewarded based on worldly parameters is not a desirable pursuit. It’s time to separate the sheep from the G.O.A.Ts.

You may not be driven to be a G.O.A.T. but…

… chances are, you are letting one influence you. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”  John10:27-28 (NIV) The true G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) is Jesus, the real Jesus, not the one created by culture, wedged into our human values and sinful desires but the One who desired to please His heavenly Father. He should be the One that has the most influence on us, but I am not sure that is true of many who claim to follow Him. Our culture and its G.O.A.Ts, whether they be Christians or not have more influence on how the sheep hear His voice and follow Him than ever before. Jesus promises that those who follow Him because they listen to Him, will have eternal life, that no one can snatch them out of His hand. Whose voice do you hear?

The sheep that follow the wrong G.O.A.Ts…

…may actually not be sheep at all. Again, I want to stress that neither you nor I have the right to undertake the eternal sorting of sheep from goats, but we need to be proactive in distancing ourselves from anyone who is trying to be a G.O.A.T as they pursue position and power as well as influence over those who are potential sheep. There is no promise to place anyone who claims to be a Christian safely in the hand of Jesus, only those who listen to His voice.

Arrogance and a hunger for power pulls the wool over many people’s eyes.

We have a sin nature that loves position and power and greedily pursues earthly riches and fame. We may not want to take on the main role, the G.O.A.T., but we love to be counted as people who follow one. We are blinded by worldly definitions of power and are willing to overlook ungodly behaviour like arrogance and a hunger for power and wealth. Sheep that hear His voice and listen normalize the humility and power of Christ, the riches of His love not the arrogance and control of those who set out to be G.O.A.Ts.

It’s a sad state.

Western Christianity has made worldly power, riches and behaviour normal while humility and the true cost of taking up your cross are now a sign of weakness. We have all watched the idea of right and wrong being sacrificed on the altar of money and power. We are watching those who seek to be G.O.A.T.s  influencing the sheep, tempting them with the same things that Satan tempted Jesus with: an easy life without the bread of life, a life that is consequence free doing whatever we want because God will rescue us, and a chance to rule over others, to be in charge of the world or at least our world in place of the only one who should rule. Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

Are you a sheep or a goat?

It depends on the voice you listen to. We have Christianized ideas, ideologies, people and countries. There is only one true G.O.A.T. There are many G.O.A.T.s in the making but they will never be The G.O.A.T. They can keep trying but they only gain power and position as long as those who should be sheep hearing the voice of the true G.O.A.T. turn to the sinful practices of those who desire to be G.O.A.T.s in the world. Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)

Wool over our eyes we stumble toward the G.O.A.T.s

If they make you comfortable because what they say is what your itching ears want to hear, (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV) your eyes are covered. You are not only following a goat, one who seeks to be equal to the G.O.A.T., you are running the risk of being a goat yourself.

A Christ follower hears only one voice.

What voice are you listening to? Is it your favourite actor, musician, politician or pastor?  They all may have great things to say but their desire to be a G.O.A.T. might have made them a goat when sheep should hold everything up to the standards of the only real G.O.A.T. who protects His sheep.

Please ask yourself:

Who has your ear, who do you listen to; in whose hand are you placing your life both now and for all eternity? When the time comes you will not be judged by the person that you see as one of the G.O.A.T.s but rather by The G.O.A.T. You will either be sent to the left or the right. You will either be welcomed or told, “I do not know you.” Get the wool away from your eyes.