No sheep this week. Well, not exactly.
Here are the lyrics to a song I wish I could duplicate the style of for other songs. But the meaning is far more important than what someone might consider one of my better recordings. Listen here and read the lyrics shown below. The lead sheet is here.
In the ocean,
I wonder how many schools of fish there are.
I can’t count them.
In the forest,
I wonder how many different trees there are.
I can’t count them.
In the meadow,
I wonder how many blades of grass there are.
I can’t count them.
In the graveyard,
I wonder how many have died without the Lord.
refrain
I can’t count them! I can’t count them.
The numbers are too great.
I can’t count them! I can’t count them.
But Jesus knew and loved each one.
In the desert,
I wonder how many grains of sand there are.
I can’t count them.
In a blizzard,
I wonder how many flakes of snow there are.
I can’t count them.
In the night sky,
I wonder how many flecks of light there are.
I can’t count them.
All around me,
I wonder how many will die without the Lord! (refrain)
According to one source, approximately 117 bullion people have lived on the earth during its existence. 45-50 billion people have lived on earth since the time of Jesus. Only around eight billion of those have identified themselves as Christians. That leaves an awful lot of people who haven’t been or aren’t Christians now. Deceased individuals who have either died without ever hearing God’s Good News or who heard it but lived and died without believing.
The Census branch of the United States government has a “pop clock” that shows some really interesting current statistics about the rate of world population growth and much more. Back when I worked at the International Mission Board, I programmed a version of the pop clock, but this one is much more thorough. Take a look at the clock here. You won’t be disappointed.
Today’s individual Christians aren’t responsible for the spiritual condition of the people who came before us or all of the nearly countless unsaved people living in the world today. But how can we look around us at the small number of lost people–sheep–we’re in contact with now and ignore their spiritual needs?
Jesus couldn’t. He died for each one of them.
I’m still working on my 25th Christian novel, Wait for Me. I’m about half done with the rough draft, and I’m finally progressing at a decent rate of speed.
I’ve written novels for a variety of age groups, but A Twisted Rainbow is one of only a few coming of age novels. I recently reread it for the first time in years and really enjoyed it. Maybe you would, too.
Links you might be interested in:
As I Come Singing. . . 