Lion Kill

If you are a wildebeest on the African plains there are a few things to bear in mind if you want to survive. Staying with the herd is important, especially if you are slightly weaker, because there is safely in numbers. If you are a young wildebeest or an old wildebeest or sick or injured, you really want to make sure you stay with the herd, because if you get caught, out on your own, you could be in for some serious trouble.

You also need to remember to pay attention, especially if you are walking through tall yellow grass. Tall yellow grass is an ideal hunting ground for lions, and if you, as a wildebeest simply stick your head down and eat grass it won't be long before you yourself become a meal for someone else.



Our reading, this coming Sunday is from 1 Peter 5: 8-14, and it draws out a similar lesson for us as Christians in verse 8,

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

An experienced Wildebeest will know that the lion is going to be out there somewhere and therefore it will do all it can to stay safe. We know, as Christians, that our enemy, the devil, is out there, looking for a way to bring us down and make us more ineffective as disciples of Jesus.

A Christian who is isolated is a more likely target than the Christian who is part of a church, or house group, Bible study... This is because we are then able to get encouragement and support and prayer from each other. Unfortunately there are many Christians for whom, when things get hard, they feel the church is the last place they will want to be, because of judgemental attitudes, failed expectations... but by isolating themselves from other Christians they make themselves a more likely subject for attack.

A wildebeest who makes a habit of keeping its head down, feeding, is unlikely to grow to a good old age. Likewise, the Christian, who does not keep alert, who does not see what is going on with spiritual eyes, is likely to discover an attack - but only when it is too late to do anything about it.

As we mature as Christians we are able to discern points of attack, sometimes even before they happen, and so we are not caught off guard.