The Lion Or The Lamb by Yvonne M. Morgan

Everyone feels differently about rainy days and thunderstorms. I enjoy an occasional gray, rainy day. As I sit here writing, I hear the thunder rumble off in the distance. The patter of a gentle rain delights my soul as it nourishes the spring flowers. A dreary day is a perfect time to stay indoors and enjoy a nice cup of steaming tea.

But this is springtime in Oklahoma. So, I watch the weather to see if the storm will strengthen. I listen for the chirp of my weather alarm to alert me to any severe storms that might approach the house. A gentle storm can become dangerous quickly around here. And tornado sirens can send us scrambling into our storm shelters for safety. Or maybe into the street to watch the storm develop, but that is not recommended. Gentle rain showers can become a roaring storm in the blink of an eye.

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7 NIV)

With the warming weather, spring is just around the corner. I see the telltale signs that Easter is also approaching. The shelves are stocked with Easter baskets, candy, and stuffed toys like chicks or lambs. Seeing these makes me realize that we enjoy thinking about Jesus as the Lamb of God, especially at Easter. And many verses depicted Him in the same way. Even Isaiah 53:7 talks about Jesus going to the cross like a lamb led to His slaughter on the cross. But, sometimes, these descriptions lull us into seeing Him only as cute and gentle. We must remember that Jesus is also the Lion of Judah in Revelations 5:5 (NIV); “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” I love the biblical picture that shows a lamb lying down with a lion beside it.

Do you prefer to view Jesus as the lamb or as the lion? I often think we like to see Him only as a harmless lamb. We want to see Jesus as gentle and meek, full of love for everyone. But, the picture of God as a roaring lion scares us like the Oklahoma severe weather scares people. We prefer to see a gentle Jesus full of love and goodwill.

But what are we missing if we only see Jesus as a lamb? I think seeing Jesus as a lamb permits us to overlook the consequences of our sins. A gentle Jesus loves us no matter how much we sin, and the Lamb doesn’t want to hold us accountable for those sins. He is love. However, we must also be aware of the words in Romans 6:23 (NIV); “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Lion of Judah requires repentance for our actions and will judge our sins someday in the future.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 NIV)

We want a meek, loving God who ignores our little sins. We convince ourselves that we are good people who make mistakes and should not be punished for our minor offenses. But, we expect the Godly Lion to punish those who commit big, unforgivable sins, like murder or rape. Paul warns us against this kind of thinking in Romans 3:23 (NIV); “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

God views all sin in the same way. Do not be deceived by the worldly view of Jesus as only a lamb. Be alert and watch for the signs of sin in your life. Repent before the Lamb turns into the Lion of Judah, who looks to destroy the unrepentant.

“For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” (John 3:16 NIV)

Oh no, just like that, my gentle rain shower has changed. The storms are turning severe, and tornado warnings were issued. The area is advised to take shelter to protect our lives. And, like with the weather, we must be aware of our surroundings. So seek the forgiveness of Lamb today to avoid the coming wrath of the Lion.

Blessings, Yvonne

Blog at Turningmountainsintomolehills.org

https://yvonne-morgan.com

Yvonne M Morgan, Christian author and speaker