The Roar of the Lion

I am fascinated by lions.  They truly are king in the animal world, and being in their presence is, in its own way, a majestic experience.  In South Africa (2006), we visited a lion refuge - where lions that had been abused or mistreated were brought and taken care of for the rest of their lives. It was quite an experience standing on the other side of a very flimsy looking electric fense, within 20 feet of such a beast.  I was struck with their strength......their power.....and the overall sense that I had just being in his presence.  HE is in control, I am not. 

Lucky for the lions, there is a chicken farm next door, so every afternoon the truck pulls up and they toss the chickens (not live) to them, and the big cats chomp down their meal.  Standing as close as we were, I could hear each crunch loud and clear.  I cringed as I thought about the Christians of the first century.

Several years before, I remember having watched a show on Animal Planet or National Geographic about lions and how they hunt.  The narrator had explained that the lion prowls in his hunt....and when he had identified his target, he continues to prowl or to stalk.  He waits.  Patiently he stalks....and he prowls....and he stalks....and he waits.  And in an instant, when he has determined the right moment, after having positioned himself perfectly, he pounces.  At that moment of attack, he has already guaranteed his victory in his preparation.  He has already identified the right victim - the one that is weak or separated from the group, the one that has wandered, the one that he knows he will defeat.  He has already observed any escape route and has awaited the right moment when none is available.  And he pounces with such force, that when he gets his victim within his grasp, there no chance whatsoever for his victim to escape.  Destruction is sure, and it's all over but the crunching.  The lion wins his prey, and the death of his victim is guaranteed.

I Peter 5:8 tells us that our enemy prowls around like a lion, seeking whom he may devour.  He stalks.  He figures out our weaknesses.  He studies.  He observes.  He prowls.  And when he has identified the right moment, he pounces with great force.

The difference is this.  I Peter 5:8 actually says that our enemy prowls around like a ROARING lion, and many sources have confirmed that the roar of a lion can be heard up to 5 miles away by humans.  That tells me that he cannot possibly get close enough to me to destroy me, must less even attack me.......unless I completely ignore the sounds of his coming.  His stealth is announced.  His prowl is loud.  His stalking is not secret.  

See the signs, hear the roar, be honest enough with yourself to decisively choose to resist.....and stand against the one that would be out to kill, steal and destroy you.  It's our own fault if we allow him close enough to actually attack. 

The difference is this