She stared at me, snarling, her eyes never leaving mine. In a few seconds, she morphed from my playful girl into a vicious and hostile creature. She was my dog and I was attempting to give her a bath! This five pound bundle of fur showed no hesitation as she stood up to me, a creature more than ten times her size.
My dog is a chihuahua, the smallest known breed of dogs. But as any owner of a chihuahua can attest, what they lack in size, they more than compensate in courage. The internet is replete with examples of this mighty mite standing up to dogs many times their size, including pit bulls! They will jealously guard their owners by barking and biting other humans, especially when they perceive imminent harm or danger.
Only one word can describe this breed.
Fearless!
The Bible is filled with thrilling stories of fearlessness. Gideon led an army of 300 men, whittled down by God from 32,000, to face and conquer the Midianite army, more than 10 times their size. David was able to conquer Goliath, a Philistine foe twice his size. These great heroes were fearless because of their unshakeable faith in God.
But this is not the greatest story of fearlessness, of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. Our Lord Jesus Christ was confronted by the prince of this world, Satan. In fact, Satan tempted Jesus with the lust of the eyes, flesh, and pride of life by offering Him the kingdoms of the world, if only He would bow down and worship him. Jesus did not succumb to Satan’s beguilings. Even tortured to death on the Cross, Jesus remained steadfast in His mission, to reconcile the broken relationship between God and man. God raised Jesus from death on the Cross, resurrecting Him three days later. Not the first man, Adam, nor Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest king of Israel, nor the Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary the world has ever known, accomplished what Jesus did.
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:5 (ESV)
As a man living on this earth, Jesus Christ repeatedly and successfully stood up to Satan, never shying away from the task. As our glorified God and Living Savior, He will return to this earth to someday defeat Satan and his demons for the rest of eternity. And because of His example, we, too, can stand firm against Satan through our faith in Him.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Hebrews 10:39 (ESV)
This is our God! Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah.
Fearless!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 