Taming the Lion - 1 Peter 5

Something that is so very true, yet so overlooked, is that Satan is alive and well and is "walk[ing] about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (vs. 8). Satan is here. This is his domain. This is him place. This is his home. And he is not too happy about us Christ-followers intruding on hi turf. Satan does not spend much time on the non-believers. Yeah, his little imps work on them just enough to keep them, but it is the believers whom he keeps close tabs on. It is us whom threaten his kingdom. It is us whom are trying to take away from his "flock". He wants to take us down, not because he can get us back, but because he doesn't want us to take any more of whom he considers his own.

Peter approaches this and tries to show us just how real this spiritual battle is. He calls for us to be sober and be vigilant. Basically, what he is saying is that we must be on guard. One thing that is interesting about the armor of God is that there is no armor on the back. I think this is God's way of saying not to turn our back on Satan, because as soon as we let our guard down, he will take us down in a second. We have to always have our armor on, and ready to resist the devil.

One exhortation Peter gives us is that we are not alone (vs. 9). These same sufferings are being felt by every genuine believer yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Satan uses the same tricks, just with different masks. Feel comfort in knowing that others are experiencing this and that is the reason for the Church - to confide in each other, and to lift each other up. Just do not forget that it is ultimately God that gives the power to continue on. Satan must submit to God because - well, God is God! If we stick close to God, He will protect us. He will show us His grace? Does this mean that the closer we are to God the less pain we will feel? Couldn't be less true! In the very next verse, Peter says that while the pain is hard, just remember that it is necessary so that Jesus can "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle" us. The pain is just part of the road to get us where we are going.

If you have ever seen even a piece of military action (even on TV or in books), you know that basic training is not a fun place to be. In training for the military, the recruits are put through gruesome tasks, hard-nosed action, and downright painful stuff. This is because the leaders know that war is rough and that when they see battle, they are going to need to be tough as well. In the same way, God has called us into a battle field. He wants to send us into the enemies territory to try and gain other people to "our (His) side". This is rough, just like any war! So, to be ready for it, we are going to have to endure somethings.

Does this mean that once we get past "basic training", things are smooth sailing? Well, does a soldier quit training after basic? No, not at all. They keep conditioning and trying to get better. True, it gets a little easier, but it doesn't quit. And neither does it stop while you are in the Christian battlefield (Earth). It gets easier as you mature in faith, but it is still battle nonetheless. You become better at it, and maybe even become the "Rambo" of the spiritual war, but you still are going to face the roaring lion, and so it is still going to be painful.

I don't tell you this to dishearten you, I tell you this to encourage you. This should be exciting to be a part of God's war against the Evil One. It is a privilege to be called one of God's own, and so it should encourage you to live up and live worthy of the calling. It should make you want to be a better "soldier" and to fight for God. It will continue until the end of the Earth as we know it, and a matter of fact, the Bible says the war just gets rougher and rougher. Are you ready for battle? If not, you better get that way soon because Satan probably already has his sword drawn and pointed straight at you! God has given you the power to tame the lion. Do it!