A few days ago I saw a video that at first made me jump, and then made me smile. A little girl was at a zoo and a lion was roaring, pawing at the window, ready to attack her, and the little girl stood there.
At this particular zoo there was glass between the animals and people instead of the usual bars I am used to and so it was all the more heart jumping action as I wondered just how strong that glass was. I remarked to someone after watching the video how that little girl was amazing, and seemed to have no fear.
An angry, hungry lion in full-on attack mode and three year old Sofia stood her ground. You can see the video clip here.
Fear Not!
How many times as Christians have we heard those words. Fear Not! Seems like over the years maybe thousands of times? Yet, a storm will break out, a trial will come upon us, and our faith is shaken, our fears rise to the surface, and we wonder how we are going to make it.
It has been said that the phrase ‘fear not’ appears in the Bible 365 times. I am not sure of the accuracy of that, but between other similar references it is very clear that we are told to not be afraid of what may come along.
As Christians our banner is Faith, and so it would be logical that we cannot have faith and still be fearful, but we too are human and fall into the grasp of the faint of heart when trials and tests come our way. I too fall prey to my fears at many times. It is easy to do.
However, one would think that over time, and many trials we would begin to realize that no matter what happens we are going to be okay.
Oh Ye Of Little Faith
Those were the words that came out of Jesus’ mouth when He was awakened by His disciples to calm the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now, if anyone should have faith, you would think the very ones who walked and talked with Jesus, even ate dinner with Him should have faith. They should know everything was going to be okay. But falling into their own doubts, after a great miracle I might add, they woke Him to ‘Master, careth not that we perish?’
How many times have we done the same thing?
We love the worship, the singing, the dancing, the shouting, but let a little storm come into our life and we wonder where is God?
Right There With Us
Matthew 28:20 states, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ He is right there in every situation with his protecting hand to shield us from harm.
Little Sofia knew that glass was between her and the lion. Sure, at first she reacted to the roar, but she stood her ground. She knew she was going to be okay.
Many times in life, the enemy comes roaring and pawing at us, ready to destroy us. His roars get louder and his attacks seem more fierce as we face him, to the point it looks like he will devour us.
1 Peter 5:8 says the ‘devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour.’ He would like to destroy us. He wants to wreck our life, but more importantly, destroy our soul. He doesn’t like the freedom we can have in Jesus.
We can sugar coat it if we like, but there is a devil and he doesn’t want us having what he cannot. So he might come into our lives, roar and paw at us to try and get us to break. If can get us to stop believing in the power of the cross, the blood of Jesus and His love, then perhaps he can win.
Standing Firm
Galatians 5:1 says, ‘stand therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.’ We have freedom and liberty because Jesus Christ took our sins and hung on Calvary that we might be free from the bondage of sin and death. We can take hope that His grace truly is sufficient for us.
If we have taken on Christ, and are covered by His blood, nothing can shake us. Isaiah wrote, ‘I have engraved you in the palms of my hands.’ We are protected by our Creator against any attack of the enemy.
Just Keep Standing
That lion kept roaring and pawing at little Sofia in the video. It wanted to attack her or at the very least scare her. A lot of us would have run crying, maybe even screaming from that lion. But she seemed fearless. Why?
She knew that between her and the lion, there was a protective barrier. That lion could not touch her. No matter how much the lion roared, it was not going to get through that barrier.
Our enemy is the same way. He can roar, he can paw, he can do all sorts of things to make us afraid but he cannot do anything to us when we are protected and bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. The enemy is powerless against the blood.
The End Of The Story
I am not sure how it all played out after, but at the end of the video clip, the lion is standing there watching that little three year old girl.
I wonder what was going through its mind?
This tiny creature who he could probably eat with one bite, stood there against the roar, against the pawing. There was nothing the lion could do.
It is the same with our lives. The enemy can roar at us, but cannot do anything when we are protected by God. Just a bunch of noise, and in the end, we will still be okay.
Sofia wants to go to the zoo, again, for her 4th birthday.
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