I Peter 5:8: Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud,
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Notice it does not say that he devours everyone, but that he looks for those who he can devour. Also note that he is not pictured as a roaring lion, but that he just acts like it. Lions prey on the weak, the wounded, the naive, and the innocent. When they are hungry, whatever flesh is easiest to get becomes their dinner. It is interesting that they are often referred to as the "king of the jungle." Mike Taliaferro, a pastor in South Africa wrote a book called "The Lion Never Sleeps" and notes that "To the lions sharp eye, dinner becomes very obvious. He notices who is old, who is tired or who is injured. A slight limp or any mannerism imperceptible in the human eye is obvious to the lion. He frightens the herd in order to spot the weak ones. Once he decides on his target, he will run past the others to get to his chosen prey."
Anyone who has studied the nature of lions knows they look for the weak, crippled, young, or unsuspecting for their prey. Once they find their victim, they begin their subtle and careful approach. Just before the charge they tense and then attack with all their ferocity. So Satan seeks his victims. To catch and devour those already ensnared by sin and weakened by the effects of their iniquity is no great task. But he also looks for prayerless, carnal Christians who have neglected the Word of God and the admonition to "add to your faith virtue; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (I Peter 1:5-7). In other words, he looks for Christians who failed to grow and mature through a discipleship[ process that takes effort and time. He also looks for the discouraged and downtrodden. He seeks out those whose lives have become disrupted by tragedy, loss, or events beyond their control. Therefore, he is never at a loss for people to victimize.
He also attacks the strong and healthy. Lions in Africa have been seen attacking full-grown Cape buffalo bulls, one of the most powerful beasts of the African plains. Though the lions band together and catch the unsuspecting buffalo downwind, sever his hamstring muscles, get him on the ground, and then crush his windpipe and jugular vein with powerful jaws. A gruesome picture, yet so is the devil's attack on the strong. In these last days this is a truth of special consequence. Because of the power of the media and the smallness of our world through increase of knowledge, the devil and his allies in the spirit world are attacking many strong and productive servants of God. His strategy is to destroy soldiers of the Cross who have had a great impact on the world and have influenced many for Christ so that their falling will bring discouragement and disillusionment to other Christians. Also, he is trying to weaken the effect of the gospel message on the already cynical and disbelieving world. --David M Griffis "Spirit Wars" p16-17 |
