In Like a Lion

There is an old saying about the month of March, which is that it comes in like a lion. That has been robustly demonstrated this year as the nation has suffered an unprecedented outbreak of tornadoes sweeping across our state and the much of the Midwest. Night after night the news has reported the destructive effects of March winds manifesting tornadically. The lion’s roar is used as metaphor to illustrate the blustery and destructive winds which accompany the transition from winter to spring. The Bible uses the imagery of the lion to make a critical point, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a lion, seeking whom he can devour (NKJV).” A lion’s power as a predator is readily seen if you watch any nature show or film. It is stealthy, fast, and powerful. The devil, our adversary, like the lion is just as deadly and just as one must take precautions and make preparations to deal with the dangerous roaring winds of March living in Tornado Alley, we must prepare ourselves daily to deal with our adversary who has roared throughout all human history.

First we must admit Satan is a true being and not just an esoteric symbol of evil. To fail to acknowledge the reality of the devil is to ignore Christ own words and personal experience with him (Matthew 4:1-11) as well as the biblical creation account. To discount what the Bible says and two thousand years of traditional Christian orthodoxy is to leave oneself totally vulnerable to satanic opposition, deception, and to promote an impotent gospel lacking power and relevancy. Many due to scientific advances assume the belief in a real figure of evil is to hang on to superstitious beliefs hindering intellectual advancement. The need to hold both beliefs separate and in conflict is unnecessary. Scientist have not nor will ever discover the source of evil that operates in every human heart. Their best neurological and psychological research will never definitively define what the Bible does: Human evil began in the Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man (Genesis 3) and the non-human provocateur in that story was none other than Satan. And so while we can appreciate scientific discoveries of the created world, we must also heed Peter’s warning and make sober preparations for certain conflict by praying fervently, reading our bible, and making disciples as Christ commanded (Matthew 28:19-20) to join in the defeat of darkness and to complete the victory Christ started on Calvary.

Stay prayed up,
Rev. Rodrick Burton