Passing the Test, Meeting the Criteria

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to attend a cattle sale in Starkville, MS. This sale is put on by our friends at Little Creek Cattle and was a huge success for all involved. Lots of cattle were bought and sold and it seemed that everyone had a great time.

Catalogs for the sale were sent out around a month or so ago and I am sure that the same thing that happened at our house, happened everywhere and it was gone through numerous times! Almost nightly, husband would pull out the catalog and look through the cattle, check out pedigrees, and watch videos. Each animal for consideration was examined for a certain criteria.

Now, most people are looking for some of the same criteria in their cattle. Breeders all want excellent udders, good feet, and sound, quality cattle. But a lot of the criteria is subjective and really depends on the particular breeder. Pedigree is one of those that is specific to the breeder. Not all breeders are looking for the same pedigree. What one likes, another may dislike. Some like polled cattle, while others prefer horned cattle. Some prefer the cattle with non-dilutor status and others don’t mind the dilution gene. Most favor cattle that are gentle and docile. Others don’t mind some spunk. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder!

This year our friends set up a Sunday morning church service. Typically, not everyone loads their purchases on Saturday after the sale and heads home. Many people, especially those with hours and hours to drive, wait and load out and leave on Sunday morning. So the plan was made that church would be held in the sale barn from 8a-9a and load out would happen after church.

It was a new idea and in my opinion was wonderful! Lots of folks showed up and it was an amazing experience to join with fellow breeder and like-minded believers. We sang together and the sale barn was filled with “I’ll Fly Away”, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace.” It was beautiful.

Husband had the privilege to preach and shared a powerful Word from the Lord that had been stirring in his soul for weeks. It was such a profound Word, that I can’t help but share it. For days and weeks before the sale, breeders had studied the cattle, found the ones that met their criteria and selected them as possibilities for purchase. Each breeder arrived to the sale, walked through the cattle and finalized their list for the ones that had passed their test. They made a list and that list would be what they would be bidding on during the sale.

Now on those lists are different types of cattle. On that list are cattle that you plan to watch, and if the price is right, you will buy and take them home. Those are cattle that you can pick up for a deal. On that list are some cows that you want, but you have a budget and you will purchase as long as the bidding doesn’t go over your max bid. And then there are animals that have met all of your criteria and passed all of the tests and those animals are the ones that you will take home no matter what.

We had one of those animals on our list; only one. I had told husband that no matter what, she went home with us. And she did!

In just the same way that we looked through the cattle and found the ones that met our criteria, God is looking out at His children and He is looking for those that meet His criteria. His is looking for those that have all of the things that He is looking for. Have they accepted His Son as their Savior? Do they carry His “pedigree”? Do they show the characteristics that He is looking for? Is there love, mercy, grace, gentleness, kindness, patience?

Are we displaying the criteria that He is looking for? Selection time is coming!

Matthew 25 tells the story of the wise and foolish virgins. You know all of my life the focus has been on the being ready, just like the wise virgins were and that is PART of the “moral” of the story. God spoke this Word to husband a while back and it is still startling to me. All of them were virgins….think about that! Half weren’t worldly “sinners” and half of them Christians. They were all virgins, which were considered holy and the example for us as Christians. Set apart. They all should have met the criteria for the bridegroom.

You know what that tells me? They were all “good people”. Heard that one before? But I’m a good person; they were a good person. Being “good” doesn’t get us into heaven, just like being a virgin didn’t get those 5 into the wedding feast. We have to go a step farther and meet ALL of the criteria.

Those 5 needed to be virgins with oil in their lamps and ready for the bridegroom. When He showed up, they had gone to get more oil and instead they missed the wedding and when they arrived, the door was shut.

When selection time came for the cattle at auction that day, there were lots of “good” cattle, but there was only one that met ALL of our criteria and we were taking her home no matter what. And when the auctioneer said “Sold!”, she was ours!

When selection time comes and Jesus returns, and believe me He is coming back and that time is closer than ever before, will you be ready? Will you be “good” or will you be found ready? When He looks at you, will you meet all of the criteria, will you pass the test and will He choose you no matter what?

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you have done, or where you have been. He is a good Father and He loves you. He will welcome you with open arms and He offers something no one else can.

He is offering eternal life. You don’t have to go another day unsure. You also don’t have to wonder if He loves you. I know He does. He placed you in such a place that you would read this today and feel that tug on your heart. He loves you; we love you.

Maybe the church has hurt you. Maybe someone who calls themselves a Christian hurt you. Maybe you don’t believe that He can accept you and love you and forgive you. Let me tell you He can, He does, and He will.

Don’t wait. Make that decision today. Selection day is coming. I want to be on that list that gets picked! Don’t you?