Just a Thought...

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27):” 
A sheep (type of follower of Jesus) who abandons the flock (type of the Church) will eventually wander far enough from the flock that it can no longer hear the voice of the shepherd (type of Jesus).
The longer it goes without hearing the shepherd’s voice, the more it will become dependent on putting it’s trust in it’s own understanding, falling prey to the enemies of the flock.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).” 
Just a thought…