“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me.” (Daniel 6:22a).

In the book of Daniel, we find a powerful metaphor for the trials and challenges that believers face in their spiritual journey. When Daniel was cast into the lion’s den, he faced a den of fierce, hungry lions, yet he emerged unscathed because of his unwavering faith in God. Today, we face different kinds of lions—threats that may not have sharp teeth or roar, but still seek to destroy us spiritually. Using Daniel’s story as a foundation, let us examine the lions we encounter in this life.

The Roaring Lion.
The Apostle Peter warned us of a fierce predator who constantly stalks us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This roaring lion represents Satan, who seeks to devour souls by pulling us away from God. Though Satan has been bound and limited in power by Christ’s victory on the cross, his influence continues through false teachings and deception. As Paul wrote, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:15, KJV). To resist this roaring lion, we are called to “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

The Lion of Idolatry.
One of the lions that seeks to devour us today is the lion of idolatry. Paul warned the Colossians to “mortify… covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Idolatry is not merely the worship of carved images or false gods; it is also the elevation of anything in our lives above God. Whether it be money, fame, power, or even ourselves, anything that takes the place of God in our hearts becomes an idol. We must guard our hearts against this lion, ensuring that God remains first and foremost in all we do.

The Lion of Oppression.
Living a faithful Christian life often brings us face-to-face with the lion of oppression. Paul told Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Oppression can take many forms, from direct persecution for our faith to more subtle societal pressures that tempt us to compromise our beliefs. Today, we must be prepared to endure trials and trust that God will deliver us.

The Lion of Nationalism.
Another lion that seeks to devour our faith is the lion of naturalism—trusting in earthly solutions and human institutions rather than in God. The role of government is ordained by God, and we are called to submit to it, as Paul explained in Romans 13:1-7. The lion of naturalism deceives us into believing that the solutions to life’s problems are found purely in this world, but as Christians, our hope is in the eternal promises of God. As Paul reminds us, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

The Lion of Sin.
Finally, perhaps the most dangerous lion we face is the lion of sin. James wrote, “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). Sin crouches at the door, waiting to devour us, and often it begins with the smallest temptation. Like a lion stalking its prey, sin often sneaks up on us gradually, catching us in moments of weakness. The key to overcoming this lion is to stay alert and grounded in God’s Word.

Agape,
Spencer