lions that lie
July 21, 2009
The king of the jungle. All beasts bow before him. He has the power to decide who lives and who dies. He is lion, hear him roar! It’s difficult not to admire the lion. But there’s one thing that I never understood about his majesty, the lion: Given all his power and all his dominion, why is it that the ruler of the animal kingdom preys only on those that are weak and young and alone? Supposedly he can have any meal that he wants; but he, in his great prowess, settles for the wildebeest with the bum leg.
In the spiritual world–the real world–things are not that different. The ruler of this place that we call “here and now” uses the same techniques as the lion. Weak Christians find themselves as appetizers for the enemy, called Satan. A new follower of Christ can be easily ripped to shreds by our adversary!
Peter, who knew the enemy well, warns:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I Peter 5:8
Has the Lord just given you victory in an area of your life? Watch out! Most times we are at our weakest when we’ve just won a battle because we usually let our guard down. Are you losing to temptation and giving in to sin? Are you just tired of trying to live right and as a result you are drifting away from the flock of your brothers and sisters? Be on the alert! The father of lies is closing in to fill your troubled heart with lies from the pit of hell!
Stay focused on Jesus. Read and re-read His comforting words in John 16:33, which read: “…But take courage; I have overcome the world.” Remember to put on God’s armor in Ephesians chapter 6. Put the words in James 4:7 to the test, where he says:
“SUBMIT THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.”
