[476 words]
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8) While trying to rock my son to sleep late one night, I happened upon a special program on television’s Animal Planet channel about lions and how they hunt their prey. What I learned made the above Bible verse come alive in a most vivid way! Consider some parallels:
Satan waits, lurks, and prowls around us! Lions are a most interesting and curious animal. I learned that over 80% of the time, lions sleep lazily in the sunshine – looking totally disinterested. But that is precisely how they lure in their unsuspecting prey until it is too close to get away. Similarly, Peter warns us to be sober and vigilant regarding the Devil of hell. One of his greatest ploys is to do his work covertly and behind the scenes. Like the lion, he doesn’t attack recklessly – that would be too obvious. Nor does he reveal himself openly – but he lurks, waiting for the appropriate time.
Satan attacks us at our weakest point! Lions never go after a whole herd. Rather, they watch for animals who wander a little away. Father from the influence and intervention of others, they are easy to take down. No wonder the Lord commanded Christians to assemble often! (Heb. 3:13; 10:24-25) We are the more vulnerable when we are away.
Satan is persistent! Like a lion, Satan will not stop until you are dead! Lions have been known to wait for hours after a first blow draws blood. As the victim grows weaker and weaker, they prowl and follow behind – waiting for the right moment to finish the kill. And so is the devil. We observe that after trying to tempt Jesus, the devil went away, but only for a short while, “…waiting for an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13)
Satan’s favorite method: Death by choking! Something I was surprised to learn is that lions kill by asphyxiation. I had thought that lions rip and tear into the vital organs of their prey with gashing blows. Actually, they go for the neck and clamp down hard, throwing the struggling victim to the ground. Then they wait while their prey grasps for life-giving air. By this point the end is inevitable and the lion has won. In that is a warning for us. We are repeatedly admonished against letting the cares and concerns of our physical lives distract us from our duty to God. (Mark 4:19; 1 John 2:15) Satan wants to “choke” the word from our heart causing us to fall away. (Luke 8:14)
Let us all be on the lookout for lion, “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:1).
John West
via Broadway church of Christ
Campbellsville, KY