Look at the RIGHT Lion

There’s a video circulating on the internet now of a little girl facing down a lion ! Nope, I’m not kidding. If you haven’t seen it watch this:  http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/279304/20120110/lion-sofia-wellington-zoo-tamer.htm       Little Sophia was intrigued by the king of beasts which is understandable for a three year old in this precise situation. But if she were older and wiser she would realize, protective glass aside, this is not the wisest course of action for her to be face up against a thin sheet of two way glass with a huge lion on the other side pawing at you as if you were his next meal !

Peter used the imagery of a lion for Satan in his first epistle saying, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1Pt.5:8) !   Jesus warned this same man, Peter, that “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Lk.22:31).    Like little Sophia and like the apostle Peter we too have an enemy who would do us harm were it not for our Lord and the guiding protective principles of the Bible.  And every day he seeks to draw you to stare him down and look at anyone and anything you should not and be distracted from focusing on God and His Word. In our immaturity we may think its ok, I can’t possibly be harmed, after all everyone does it, he can’t possibly get to me.  But the lion is stronger than us and so we need One stronger than the lion to aid us.

When the writer of Hebrews penned these verses he gave us something that is critical to help us through any crisis or temptation we may face: “. . .let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (12:1-3).    Now there is a lot to exposit here but let me say simply this,  you’ll note I italicized two words in this passage. I did so because our mental and spiritual focus needs to truly be on Him and His Word, not the things Satan seeks to distract us with which will hurt us in time if we stay fixated on them.

You may get impatient when your prayers aren’t seeming to be heard or things aren’t going as you’d like though you are trying to live for the Lord. Run the race patiently not caving in to Satan’s ways. Trust God, His timing is impeccable !   Things may be a little trying for you at times, but never as trying as they were for Jesus when He suffered to pay for your sins.  Why did He persevere?  For the joy set before Him !  You too have a lot to look forward to as a born again believer, so hang in there, it WILL get better !!  Keep focused on Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah !!!!