When the Lion Stops Roaring

When the lion stops roaring, don’t sit back and rest on your laurels. If the truth be known, I know absolutely nothing about lions – with one exception. The Bible says the devil walks around “as a roaring lion”, and I know plenty about this particular lion. The devil comes to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10 KJV),” and he has been known to roar as he prowls around looking for victims. But what happens when the devil stops roaring like a lion, and why exactly does he roar?

I believe the devil roars like a lion to intimidate people into bowing down to him, but I also believe the devil stops roaring from time to time. Do you remember what happened with the devil after he tempted Jesus in the wilderness? “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. (Luke 4:13 KJV).” The devil only left for “a season”, so surely his roaring only died down temporarily. I believe when the devil stops roaring like a lion that we need to be on extra high alert. Why?

When I sense the devil harassing me in a big way from close by, I know what I need to do. I need to wear the full armor of God (Ephesians 6), I need to resist the devil (James 4:7), and I need to “watch and pray” (Mt 26:41 KJV). When the devil is roaring loudly in my ear, when I feel him up close and personal, I am reminded  to seek the Lord and obey His Word.

But when the devil goes away “for a season”, when the roaring has ceased for that season, I am much more prone to forgetting how susceptible I am to become his prey if I do not follow the Lord. If you want a good analogy, imagine your house being robbed.

For some time after your house is robbed, you will more than likely be on extreme guard. You will take extra precautions to guard your house. You will keep your eyes and ears open for any signs of trouble. But as time passes, and as years go by, you may well let your guard down and turn your attention to other things. What a perfect time for the robbers to return! If you have a security system, you may even get into the habit of not turning it on.

When it comes to the devil, we cannot afford to leave our security system in the off position. The devil’s number one goal is to destroy us, so we cannot afford to let our guard down when the roaring disappears for a season.

So what exactly should you do when the lion stops roaring? Do not be deceived. God does not tell us to use the full armor of God only when we feel like it. He does not tell us to submit to Him and resist the devil once in a blue moon. He does not tell us to pray every once in a while. We are called to obey the Word of God irregardless of the volume of the enemy’s roar.

When the lion stops roaring, stand strong in the Lord. Years ago, I told my pastor excitedly that a friend had told me to put on the armor of God every morning.

My pastor replied: “Why would you take your armor off at all in the middle of a major war? You shouldn’t need to put it back on. You shouldn’t be taking it off.”

When the lion stops roaring, stand strong!

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV

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