1 Peter 5:8-9 – “…Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith…”
A friend of mine just recently sent me a sermon on the activity of lions from a safari the preacher had taken in Africa. One of the lessons the preacher learned from his tour guides is that lions don’t see as humans see. The people going out were safe so long as they remained in the trucks and jeeps. The lions would see them as a big block they cannot eat, though in reality, they could have easily jumped into the jeeps and killed them. The tour guides warned that if any one of them were to get out of the vehicle, and the lions saw an individual profile on the move, the lions would immediately seek to kill them.
The preacher described how once you were in the midst of the lions a couple of times, you got comfortable enough in their presence that it would be easy to let your guard down. In fact, the story was told of a tourist who did get out for a picture, and sadly, ended up devoured by the lions.
Christian, be sober and alert to the fact you have an adversary who is seeking to devour people. Jesus said he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. You must resist his temptations to step outside of God’s ways, remaining firm in your faith. When we surround ourselves with other Christians, operating in the means of grace, it’s a hedge of protection from the adversary, like the safari vehicle is to tourists. Don’t let your guard down and get isolated in your journey with God.