The Lion and The Lamb

When researching how March used to be described based on the weather by the following slogan “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” I couldn't help to think how much of a correlation this phrase could actually speak to people who are feeling hopeless. To help show the correlation of this phrase to a person who doesn't have the answers and grows quite frustrated with what is going on in their life, there is actually another originating factor to how this phrase came into existence.

Back in the day there were two constellations that became the focus to this phrase. They were Leo, the Lion and Aries, the ram or lamb. What it had to do with was the relative positioning in the sky at the beginning and end of the month with these two constellations.

So when thinking about relative positioning of these two constellations, a person also has to think of their own life in the term relative positioning. What relative positioning says is that there is “the perception of the positions of objects in relation to each other and is essentially a geometrical problem.” (Online Encyclopedia Britannica; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/199272/eye/64961/Relative-positions-of-objects )

When talking about geometric shapes and the relation of that shape to spiritual matters, a common geometric shape is the triangle. And for the matter of this article, it will be explained as to how the shape of the triangle and the thought of the lion and the lamb come to play in relation to man's life.

Let me introduce who is represented in the three corners of the triangle. On the left base is Satan and he is the roaring lion. On the right base is God and He is the Lion and the Lamb. At the top is each individual person. Both Satan and God are moving towards the pinnacle of man's life which is the basis of each and every decision man has to make and how they are going to react to what is going on in their life. Both Satan and God are trying to influence man's decisions with the principles they are trying to put into man's life through education and experience. This is the basis of this principle and what this article will continue to explain.

The Roaring Lion

Satan's is described in 1 Peter 5:8 as “our adversary and enemy and is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” This devouring has the pretense that Satan wants to totally consume man's life to the point where they are discouraged and cannot function properly nor believe that they can provide any form of love to others. He wants to get people to the point where they are totally consumed with their problems in this life and become so focused on themselves that they cannot see what others are going through around them to be supportive or compassionate. Taking a look at society it would appear Satan is succeeding with accomplishing what he has set out to do since the beginning of time with Adam and Eve.

Some of the ways Satan tends to keep man down and tear them apart like a lion would be to tear them apart by shame, guilt and discouragement. Satan is standing in opposition to God and will do anything to steal away from God's creation what God's desire was when He created this world and all that is in it especially mankind. When he appeared to succeed with the destruction of mankind through Adam and Eve in the garden, he was probably gloating and saying “ha, take that God now let's see who's boss!” Little did Satan know God would end up defeating Satan with a divine plan of grace and forgiveness since Satan who was also a created being never experienced that quality of God. In fact Satan knows the consequences of his decision to rebel against God; total separation from God and cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented for the rest of eternity.

Some of the devices, tools and means by which Satan will try to destroy mankind starts with trying to figure out how to outwit them (2 Corinthians 2:11 ). So man needs to be fully equipped with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10 -20) in order to be prepared for his attacks. This means not only does one have to know God's Word but also needs to know what temptations tend to get through the weak links in their personal armor.

Another means that he uses is to present opportunities to where mankind will become conceited from some of the great revelations they may experience in life (2 Corinthians 12:7). What tends to follow this point is grace. The realization is that man cannot take care of their own sins and where they have fallen prey to Satan on one's own. Mankind needs a Savior and that is where Jesus stepped up to the plate and lived the life all of mankind tried to live. But He could because He was the Son of God and had come to earth in the form of man to pay that penalty and provide the means for grace and forgiveness.

Then there is the method of preventing and stopping people from being together (1 Thessalonians 2:18 ) because he knows strength comes in greater numbers. The prime example in reference to praying is just when two or three people get together in His name, there God is also (Matthew 18:20).

So from what anyone can see and discover is that Satan is out to destroy any hope one may have in God to where they try to live out life on there own and do not give credit to God where it is due. And what this will do is destroy any possibility of a personal relationship with God which is all He desires.

The Lion and The Lamb

So when one thinks of God, how many can relate to God as the lion and the lamb? Not only do lions destroy things for the means of survival and in Satan's case surviving this world with the satisfaction of destroying as many people as he can before God's final judgment. Lions also protect their young. And that is what those who believe in God are in the eyes of God. Those who believe in God are His young; His children. And because of the great love God has for those who believe in Him, He is going to go out of His way to protect those whom He loves. And also try to bring back into the den, those who have wandered off or have no realization that they have wandered off. We have a God who is man's strength as described in Proverbs 30:30 “a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing.”

Another understanding when it comes to a lion is that the lion is called the king of the beasts. God is also considered man's King in the grand scheme of life. He has the ferocity in both His presence and His roar to put fear into those who do not know Him or are against His principles such as Satan. Micah 5:8 is a great description of what God will do in judgment to those who oppose Him. “Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.” This is how God will pass through those who are opposed to Him or who reject having a personal relationship with God. There will be no means for these people to be rescued from His judgment when it comes.

God is also considered the Lamb of God. When the Bible would talk about the Lamb of God, it would be referred to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The lamb was generally used as a means for food and sacrifice (Deuteronomy 32:14; Genesis 4:4 & 22:7). Sometimes these offerings or sacrifices would be held in the morning and evening (Exodus 29:38-42). Jesus Christ was sacrificed for the sake of mankind to gain hope in a restored personal relationship with God. His words became the food by which mankind is supposed to live their lives. And it is highly important to spend time with God both in the morning and evening. It is a time to present offerings and sacrifices to Him out of a thankful heart for what He will and has brought each person through on a daily basis as well as the means to ask for His protection and guidance throughout the day as well as to confess whatever means a person had lived throughout the day that was in opposition to God and His desires for man's life.

Final Thoughts

So when thinking about relative position in the context of our relationship with God and Satan, who are you willing to allow yourself to be influenced by? Do you prefer the One who is there to protect you and build you up in encouragement and with providing hope? Or do you prefer the one who wants nothing more than for you to experience discouragement and no hope in this lifetime as well as continue to place distractions that cause us to look away from God? Or are you going to use those distractions as a means to be drawn back to God?

As Joshua put it best in Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped, beyond the River and in Egypt , and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

What gods of your forefathers are you aware of that you are currently worshipping? And if totally unaware, pray and ask God to show you as every man, woman and child have them. You just may not be aware of what those gods are and it is the blessing of having a gracious Lion of Judah and loving Lamb of God who wants nothing more than for you to know what they are. That is one means by which they protect us is by helping us see what we cannot see ourselves.

If you are looking for answers to have hope in your life once again, feel free to send me your question and I will look at addressing that topic in future publications.

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