Lionology

Yesterday, we learned how the lion is mentioned in Scripture over 150 times. Animals are awesome illustrations of God's character and also teach us lessons He wants us to learn.

Have you ever seen anyone who just looked guilty? I'm not talking about judging people. It's just they were acting shady for some reason or another. It was obvious. That's kind of the thought behind the first part of this Proverbs quote: "The wicked flee when no one pursues." When you're living and walking in darkness, you're always looking around the corner, always having to cover up, always having to hide. What a miserable way to live, burdened with guilt, shame, and a guilty conscience.

The Bible contrasts the wicked person with the righteous person. The person who has been made right with God is as bold as a lion. I'm no zoologist, but lion don't really walk around being scared of other animals. Most of the clips I've seen of lions are either them taking a nap or killing something. Doesn't really seem like they're worried about much else.

The Bible says the righteous person is as bold as a lion. They don't have to worry about pleasing other people or over-explaining themselves or their motives because they have already submitted their entire lives to Jesus. Isaiah tells us that our own righteousness is like filthy rags, but Second Corinthians tells us that Jesus became sin for us so that in Him we could become the righteousness of God. That gives us boldness and confidence to come to the throne of grace in our time of need. That righteousness gives us boldness in proclaiming the gospel and sharing the message, no matter our past. That boldness allows us to love out loud, just like Jesus.