Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1^st Peter 5:8

Are you aware just how savage lions can be? British Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, DSO, wrote a book of his experiences hunting and killing two man-eating lions at the Tsavo River in 1898. The Britons were building a railroad in British East Africa (now Kenya) and had come to the Tsavo River where crews (mostly Indian nationals) began constructing a bridge.

According to Patterson, for nine months there was a period of terror where the lions systematically killed 135 persons in the area including 28 Indian construction workers. Some of the workmen were stalked and others dragged from their tents at night by the beasts and eaten. The situation became so terrifying that all the workers abandoned the worksite blaming the attacks on Patterson as they had begun shortly after he arrived at the river. Some even threatened to kill him. After the crews deserted the worksite Patterson remained, eventually killing both of the man-eaters at great personal risk. Over the years Hollywood has made three movies based on Patterson's book. The last was the 1996 film The Ghost and the Darkness. The mounted bodies of the 'Lions of Tsavo' are on display at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History.

Most people in the secular world like to think of Satan as a comical, chummy little guy with horns and a pointy beard that stands on the shoulder, whispering temptations of hidden pleasure. Is that how the devil really is? A funny little man in a red suit? Or is he a savage lion? I believe his brutality and viciousness go far beyond that.

Taken in its overall context the Bible teaches Satan is the latter. He is in rebellion against God, hating Him and the human race. Jesus said Satan was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). His rage and disposition to disruption and destruction is compared to a vicious lion seeking to destroy prey.

Satan isn't funny in spite of how movies and TV commercials like to show him. When it comes to Adam's race he and his fallen angels are cruel and barbaric man-eaters without a shred of mercy.

But were you aware there is another Lion? One that loves Adam's Race? He is the holy Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, who has received from God absolute power, authority, and dominion over all things (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:21-22). He is the head of the church.

Paul said though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. Our war is against spiritual (Satanic) forces. He goes on to say the weapons we fight him with are not fought through fleshly means but are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds (2^nd Corinthians 10:3-4).

The Christian faith must remain militant against spiritual powers in heavenly places that war against us. Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God in our fight, giving us the strategy for the Battle (Ephesians 6:13-18). While Satan can still be a formidable foe, when the Lion of Judah is near his roar is reduced to a mewl. Christ, as the Lion of Judah reigns supreme. His roar is not frightening but a wonderful consolation to believers, leaving the man-eaters trembling in their dins (James 2:19).

Ken