Growing up on a farm, we never raised goats, although we did have sheep for a short time when I was young. Not having raised both, it was still common knowledge that farmers separate sheep from goats. Why? There are many reasons, some of which include disease transference, dietary and feeding differences, and temperaments. Sheep are gentler animals, they leisurely graze together, and will loyally follow the one who takes care of them. Goats are rough, have a difficult disposition, and are very stubborn and more difficult to work with. Their two fundamental natures do not mix well, thus what becomes commonly known as ‘separating sheep from goats.’

Where there is no judgment, there is no peace

One of the Significant Events of the Spiritual Journey is where those things in our nature and our beliefs and our lifestyle begins to get separated into what is usable by the Spirit, and what is not. Truth is the judge, and the work of the cross separates what is good, right and true (the sheep) from what is erroneous (the goats). Everything in us is brought into the light of truth, and then it becomes the believer’s responsibility to cooperate in discarding what is unusable by God. This separating of sheep and goats—discarding long-held beliefs and lifestyles—can cause extreme distress and discomfort. Ignoring or prolonging instruction to eliminate these can lead to severe pain and agony and can become what ultimately causes what we know as ‘suffering’.

There is spiritual purpose in ‘suffering’. Give the Creator the right to manage the process of separating the sheep from the goats. This will eventually lead to all earthly attachments being broken, and freedom from these attachments will lead to the higher purpose we are created for. When we get to spiritual maturity and learn to walk without personal motivations, we become true partners with God to bring His Kingdom to earth.