The Word on Lions

The Bible says a lot about lions, I like these ones:

Proverbs 28:1

“The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion” (Amplified Bible)

Proverbs 30:30

A lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any; (NKJV)

Put together, the righteous are bold as a lion and do not turn away from any...as long as they remain righteous

Being "righteous" is simply about being right with/before God. So what does it mean to "be right" with God. In everyday speak, it is "being in God's good book"...

So how can one get into God's good book?

To get into anybody's books, you first need to be "known" by that person. It's exactly the same for God. God's good book is called the "Book of Life".

We're all born sinners so we are born into the "Book of Death"...what we do or don't do when we are of age to decide determines whether we remain in that book or move into the Book of Life. The choice is ours:

Deuteronomy 31:19 - 20 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.*

Proverbs 11:19 He who is steadfast in righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) attains to life, but he who pursues evil does it to his own death.*

Proverbs 12:28 Life is in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), and in its pathway there is no death but immortality (perpetual, eternal life).*
Jeremiah 21:8 And to this people you [Jeremiah] shall say, Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.*

Once we choose life and live by His will found in His word, "we know that we have passed over out of death into Life"** and then we're eligible to have our names written in the Book of Life.

We can also look at this from the other angle. Knowing those whose names will never get into the Book of Life is a sure way of knowing what not to do...if you want your name to get into and remain in the Book of Life.

I like the New Living Translation's rendition of Revelation 21:27: "Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."

To have your name written in the Book of Life, recognise that only God can save you and you are only saved as long as you obey His commands and remain right before Him.

Once you are and remain righteous, you and live like a lion and have nothing to fear...:you have the same assurance as David:

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?* (Psalm 118:6)

Sources

*Amplified Bible

**1 John 3:14a