lion_lamb

The Lion … and the Lamb!,
by Randall D. Kittle

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” — Revelation 5:12

Ever since I was a kid I’ve heard the expression, “If March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb.” The cold, whipping winds of March come roaring in like the aforementioned lion. We bristle against their harshness, knowing that if we can just hold on a little longer, the promise of a gentler, milder Spring is just around the corner.

These cold, harsh winds of March remind me of the ever colder, harsher winds we face in our spiritual walk — the winds of adversity. Sometimes, these winds just blow hard against us; at other times they blow us over. As we stand opposing the cold trials of life, we often respond like we would against the harsh March winds. We narrow our eyes, pull our arms tighter into ourselves, and walk head down leaning into the “wind,” hoping and praying that “Spring” is not too far away.

It is during these times that we really are fighting a lion. The Scriptures tell us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” There it is, straight from the mouth of God — we are fighting a lion called Satan. We may not see with our earthly eyes a lion with ferocious, deadly teeth prepared to tear our lives to shreds, but we are indeed up against and enemy with the power to chase us down, knock us over, and pounce on us. That problem you are having at work … it’s the lion. Those bitter words you received from a friend … that’s the lion. The bad financial news you got in the mail … who else? … the lion.

It Will Go Out With the Lamb
How can we possibly fight against a creature as forceful and determined as this? Well, do you remember how the month of March goes out? Do you remember the lamb? That is all you and I need to do … remember the Lamb — the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ is the slain and resurrected Lamb of God. He has already won the greatest battle of our life: the battle for our salvation. He won that battle two thousand years ago on a rough and rugged cross. Hanging high on a hill at Calvary, He uttered three words, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) … and it was! From that second on, nothing Satan, the prowling lion who opposes us, could bring against us would ever do us any real or lasting harm. All he can really do now is blow, just like those early March winds.

So the next time Satan, the windy lion of opposition, is blowing gale force in your life and trying to knock you down, just remember that Jesus, the Lamb of God, is right there waiting for you to grab hold of Him as you ride out the enemy’s winds of warfare. Jesus is God’s victorious Lamb who is “gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).