Shut The Mouths Of The Lions

       There are certain happenings in our lives that look as if God is far away from us and cannot possibly be letting what is happening to us to happen. We must understand that if indeed we are children of God, everything that happen to us is not per chance but all orchestrated to showcase the power and glory of God in our lives. Someone once remarked that why should God allow certain things to happen to us first before rescuing us from them. At the same time we must not forget that He equally rescues us before the things actually happen. That is HIS way. To understand this further, Jesus Christ taught us a model of prayer thus: “…And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…” (Matthew 6:13a). This means He can deliver us before we enter into the problem or allow us to enter the problem and then deliver us from the problem. The prerogative is His. You might ask why. This is so because He wants His glory to be fully showcased in the situation and in our lives. One more thing we must equally understand about the Lord Jesus Christ is that He does not do things haphazardly! Everything He does is measured, calculated and planned so that: “…The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). It pleased the Lord to save the three Hebrew boys in the fire and He chose to save Elisha before the army of the enemy could capture him. 

      Several are going through myriads of persecutions especially in the work place because of their faith and not because of their performance on the job. In fact these ones are doing so well but are being denied promotions and several entitlements because they have not bought into the debauchery that is going on around them. Please don’t give up because your deliverance from these persecutors is at hand if you will not waiver in your faith. God intends to allow what you are going through to showcase His power and His glory. In this times we are in, which the Bible calls perilous times, certain attitudes have set in, all designed to rob any unguarded heart of his faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible clearly warns us of the antics of the enemy at this perilous times and how we must intelligently watch: “Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world” (1Peter 5:8-9). One of the important phrases in the foregoing quote is “looking for anyone”. It doesn’t matter how long you have known the Lord or what you had done or doing, ‘anyone’ is a target! Thus, as a child of God, the verse warns further that we must be ‘firm in the faith’. That is the only way we can defeat the enemy. 

       A typical example of this is Daniel. Daniel was doing so well that king Darius desired to set him above his fellow administrators and satraps of the kingdom. Of course, they got jealous and thought of a dastardly way to get rid of him. Please note that they tried every means but could not find any fault with him, in regards to his work performance or his integrity. The only way they could bring him down is if it concerns the God that Daniel serves. Now, this is where it gets constructive for us. The enemy knows that he cannot make the government or heads of corporations make any policy that will outright stop us from serving God, but he can come up with ideas that will make God disqualify us and make our service to God a lie; thus giving him leverage to destroy the life. The scripture we read in 1 Peter 5 tells us to be firm in faith; meaning, certain arrows will be hurled at us that may want to make us deny our faith. Friends once we deny our faith, his terrible arrows can then penetrate our hearts: “In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). Daniel was set up by his colleagues, but they failed because he was innocent of their charges and he had not committed any evil against his boss or the kingdom. Friend, how is your stand with God. If your faith is strong, how is your stand with the organization? There is a saying that he who must come to equity must come with clean hands. Friend, the God of the whole earth shows no favoritism or partiality. Daniel stood before Him blameless, and God delivered him from the mouths of the lions. God is set to deliver you in and from every lion that has opened its mouth to swallow you or anything that concerns you. This is yours and mine right in the Presence of God. But it is not a right that must be taken for granted. 

      We must stand right with God and not assume we can get away with misdeeds because we are the righteousness of God. If that is our cover, then we are in grave danger. Daniel had no assumptions but believed and trusted the God he serves: “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king” (Daniel 6:22). Make right with the Lord and watch Him fight this battle for you! This is your right as a child of the Most High God! May the Lord shut the mouth of every lion that has opened its mouth to swallow you or anything that belongs to you in Jesus Christ name. Just as He did in Daniel’s case he will do for you, all those that are conspiring against you: “I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they will be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. Then all flesh will know that I, the Lord am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26) in Jesus Christ name. God bless you.