" And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Amen. Revelation 1: 5,6.
While watching a wild life programme shot somewhere in the Serengeti,I was amused by the antics of the various breed of monkeys in the tree branches on the banks of a lake.
The serene and beautiful surrounding of the lake was dotted with all kinds of animals and birds, large and small, milling around ,to drink and swim in the watering hole.
Suddenly , all the animals , including the large ones like zebras and buffaloes moved away from the lake into the cover of the bush ; each letting out cries of fright to warn each other of danger. The calm of the lake was shattered!
There was panic amongst the animals because a pride of lions had arrived on the scene to quench their thirst!
The howler monkeys went higher up the trees and let out loud screams and howls ; while the birds and other animals joined the chorus of hateful alarm in their own peculiar "languages".
The lions ignored them and without even a glance at the gang of protesting animals, they drank water to their hearts content and then laid down on the shore for a rest.
As they laid there , the noise and commotion from the other animals continued.
Some of the animals ran away; while others shrieked , snorted and howled at the lions from a safe distance.
But none of them dared to return to the lake while the lions were there.
Meanwhile, the lions were unperturbed and indifferent to the commotion around them. Nor were they afraid that they were out-numbered by hundreds of howling and screaming animals who, were ,obviously, very upset at the lions' unwanted awesome presence!
Apparently , the lions were not hungry and did not come to hunt for prey but to quench their thirst.
The family of lions sat down , confidently ,took their rest by the lake, for as long as they wanted to do so; and then they walked away, majestically .
Such is the confidence and privilege which go with power, strength and dominion.
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion ".Proverbs 28:1.Not until after the lions had left the scene could any of the other animals feel safe and bold enough to return to the lake.
Indeed , when the Cat is away, mice come out to play!
I felt sorry for the poor, harassed animals who had to endure this atmosphere of fear and intimidation from the lions, every day ,at their watering holes.
I could imagine the insults and threats those animals hurled at the lions and their anger and bitterness at being inferior in status and strength to the lions!
But, in this life , every one cannot be king .
In the jungle Someone had to be King; to rule and reign over the others.
The lion was chosen and endowed with strength to lord it over the other beasts of the jungle. Specially created as king of the Jungle , to reign over the pecking order of the food chain!
Lions know this and the other animals know this and accept that the Lion is king ; even if they do so grudgingly.
When the Lion speaks ( roars), no one dares to rebuke him into silence.
At the sound of his voice ,the earth trembles ; the other animals retreat into hiding and they quake with fear!
"...he uttereth his voice , the earth melted" . Psalm 46:6bThe King of the beasts eats and drinks when and where he pleases.
The King goes wherever he wants ; even where other animals would not dare to tread.
The lion walks tall , striding majestically before his enemies and is not shaken or deterred by their protests or disapproval!
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." 1 John 2:6.Someone has been given the mandate and power to rule and reign in heaven and on earth.
All usurpers, noise makers and pretenders to the Throne become silent in the presence of the King of Heaven and Earth!
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is Lord , in Heaven and on Earth.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ". Philippians 2:9 - 11 Kingship is bestowed either by birth and or by anointing.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has bestowed power and dominion to rule and reign on those that are called by His name.
Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords .
He has made his people, called by His name to rule and reign in the midst of their enemies and the enemies of their God.
Psalm 110:2.The power and dominion which Jesus bestows for kingship flows from His Righteousness.
Jesus Christ,the Lion of the tribe of Judah has made us righteous to sit and reign in high places with Him, far above principalities and powers and every power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt us.
"For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ". Romans 5 :17
Just like the other animals dread and tremble before the lion , so God has put fear and trembling in the midst of our enemies to paralyse and render them ineffective in their evil devices against us!
"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Psalm 1:33.If only we believe and stand in the liberty which God has given us, always, deliverance, peace and victory shall be our portion in life. Amen.
"The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it,and is safe.” Proverb 18: 10.
