-“On the Prowl”-

My family loves animals. One quick look over our home & you can easily deduce that. We have two dogs, four cats & a rabbit. We go to the family farm often that has 3 horses, one mule, 100+ head of cattle, two bulls & a few & sundry cats & dogs. They even had a couple of buffalo & a jack & jenny (donkeys for the uninitiated) at one time. We’ve owned birds & a dwarf hamster (mean little boogers!). We love to go to any zoo or drive through Animal Park when we can. While I admire it, there’s one animal I have no desire in owning: a lion.

I have visited an animal sanctuary/recovery facility a few times in Eureka Springs called Turpentine Creek. They house lions & tigers that have been rescued from zoos, or worse, when individuals attempt to own them & find they are not house pets! One man even let loose a full grown lion on Mt. Magazine as it got big, difficult to handle & costly to feed. Glad I didn’t happen on him while hiking or camping on the mountain!

Years ago, while dating my soon-to-be-wife, we went to the Memphis zoo. There was a large lion that was lying around his enclosure, docile & un-intimidating. Wrong! As I began to lean over the rail & make cat calls & faces the lion casually looked at me & turned on a dime. A roar came out that seemed to have come all the way from his tail! I went white and almost lost bodily functions at that point. Moral of story: don’t mess with a lion.

As I’ve learned about & studied animals I’ve found some facts about lions in particular. They are a majestic, powerful beast. Their roar can be heard for up to 5 miles & lets you know he is ‘King’! While they often are the only cats to live in a family group (except at my house!) called prides, when a male reaches maturity he is forced to leave the pride & search for one of his own to take over or to make. Thus, many male lions are left for years to hunt, forage and fend for themselves. That’s the dangerous, solitary lion on the prowl.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
I Peter 5:8 NLT

Often lions, rightly so, are depicted as regal & top of the predatory chain. They are often used & portrayed as symbols of leadership & courage. Most scriptural reference is favorable & Jesus is even called the Lion of Judah. The reference in I Peter depicts the devil as a lion. He is that solitary, prowling lion. He lurks in the darkness searching for someone unwary to devour. Devour he will.

I hope your have a right standing with God. My prayer is that you seek His power & strength & help. Know this, there is an enemy that is powerful & will not hesitate to disembowel you. Make no mistake, he will devour you alive!

While the Apostle Peter wrote this letter, the imagery was clear to the audience of the first century church. Christians were being persecuted & thrown defenseless to wild beasts. People could be about their lives & hear the roar of the lions from the Coliseum wondering if they were next.

Here’s one other fact to know about lions. As they get older & lose teeth & strength, they become vulnerable to attack of the young & mightier males. They are driven away & have little left to ward off others than their roar. Jesus is the Conquering Lion of Judah. He has already overcome the devil! You have no need to fear the stealth, prowess, & power of the devil…if you are walking with the King! Satan is a defeated lion with a roar. He can still eviscerate you if you stand alone, but if you walk with the King he must cower in the distance.

Please don’t try to walk the jungle of this life alone. Find your rest, strength & protection from our Conquering King, the Lion of Judah. As always I’ll pray for you & please return the favor. If I can be of any help or you have a prayer need call on me.

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Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
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