From The Director: The Lion is Waiting

I came across this photograph of a waiting lion, lying in the grass on the African plain. I took the picture a few years ago while on a mission’s trip. Many things I remember vividly about that trip, preaching to African leaders and ministers of various nations, visiting and hearing children sing of Christ in one of our orphanages, witnessing about
Christ to a Maasai Chief, and meeting some of the most beautiful people in God’s family I would ever meet. Until I came across this picture, I had almost forgotten about the lion… the waiting lion. He would eventually arise and move… thankfully away from our group. Looking at his picture I thought of another lion….a lion who waits to move.

The Bible refers to both the devil and to Christ as lions.

In Peter’s First Epistle, Chapter 5, verse 8, the devil is called “a roaring lion, who roams about, seeking whom he may devour.” He is a renegade, he is not part of a pride or family. He will kill and destroy any and all unless a great male lion, the leader of his pride (lion family) destroys him.

John, tells us in Revelation, Chapter 5, Verse 5,

“…..Weep not: Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed….” Jesus will always prevail. No force on this earth, nor in the vastness of the universe can stop Him.

On this day, my trust is not in men of any political party, of any nation. I do not worship a nation, though I honor and obey the laws of my nation that do not conflict with the Bible. On this day, I unashamedly declare I will always vote for candidates, whose platform and ideology best represent my Biblical values. I am not voting for a pastor or a saint. I already have a godly Pastor.

I am under no illusions. I am a serious student of both World and American history. The United States and indeed most of the nations of the world have had leaders of many different parties, whose lives were flawed with faults, moral failures and sin, and yet they done great deeds and led their nation through horrific crisis, disasters and war. The talents, skills, and abilities they have are things God allowed them to have. According to Daniel 4:24,”…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.”

The Lion is waiting….the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will return and He will prevail.

Dr. David M. Griffis, World Missions Director