Christians and Lions

13. January 2010 by PawBill.

I recently recall driving pass a local church that had one of those magnetic signs that read, “Christians meet here.”  I never thought much about it until I passed by one day and there was another sign posted on an old wooden shed across the street that read, “Lions meet here.”  The lion sign, while intended as a joke, probably brought more attention to the church and maybe more visitors. 

The church has relocated to another part of town, but I occasionally pass by their new location.  They still have the Christian sign, but there is no lion sign.  Probably because the property across the street is just a high school field and a lion sign would not be permitted.  Things like this interest and amuse me.  How about you?

The Christian and lion story signs brought back memories of the old Biblical story of, “Daniel in the Den of Lions.”  The story is found in the Old Testament section of the Bible in the book of Daniel, chapter six. 

Darius the Mede (recall your ancient history lesson about the Medes and Persians) had captured the Babylonian kingdom from Belshazzar.  Belshazzar’s father, Nebuchadnezzar, had brought Daniel as a captive to Babylon after Jerusalem had been sacked.  Daniel had found favor with Nebuchadnezzar because of his ability to interpret dreams by the Spirit of God and had been given positions of importance in Babylon because of his prophetic abilities.

After King Darius (Darius) had taken Babylon he appointed Daniel as one of three administrators who would oversee other “kingdom rulers.” Apparently the two other administrators did not like Daniel so they tricked Darius into signing a decree that would put to death anyone who prayed to another god or man other than Darius during a thirty-day period.  Of course Daniel never denied his God and prayed three times a day toward Jerusalem giving thanks only to God.  He did not pray in secret so he was found out and reported. 

Darius liked Daniel and did not want him to die, but because he had signed the decree he had no choice. The law of the Medes and Persians did not provide for the repeal of a decree once it was in writing. Daniel was placed in a den of lions as his death sentence.  The king did not sleep that night because of his distress and at first light hurried to the den where he found Daniel safe.  Daniel gave all the credit to God and His angels.  The end of the story was not favorable to the administrators who had accused Daniel.  Darius had the men and their families thrown into the den of lions, and the lions ate them all. How would you like to have lived during this pagan period?

What about you? Are you facing a “lion’s den” because of your Christian beliefs? Do people even know you are a Christian?  As Jesus said in Luke 9:25-26 NIV:  

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

In the troubled days to come, will you deny Jesus or will you stand with Him?  You will be required to make a choice.  I hope you will choose to stand with Jesus.  I have! 

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