The fake roaring lion

'Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.'

(1 Peter 5:8)


If the devil was to be neglected and overlooked, then Peter would not have told us to be alert. One of the reasons why many people get into the devil's claws is simply because they underestimate him below his actual evil potential.

Be of sober mind and not drunk with the things of the world to the point where it becomes impossible to even see the obvious advances of the devil.

Interestingly, Satan likes to be a copycat of God. We know that Jesus is referred to as the ‘Lion of Judah’ (ref. Revelation 5:5) , and Satan wants to copy the same reference. But notice that while he is prowling, he is also roaring like a lion. Satan is not a lion, he is roaring LIKE a lion.This means while prowling, he is making noise announcing his arrival in a certain place.

Jesus said this about His followers in John 10:5: ‘ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. ‘

A true follower of Jesus will not follow the enemy when he (the enemy) tries to copy God’s voice. A person who easily follows the enemy is a person who has a poor or no relationship with Christ.

Simply because something is roaring, it does mean it’s a lion. In other words, not everything comes from God. Not every idea comes from God. Not every social cause and concerns come from God. Not every popular thing comes from God. Those things may look like they come from God but they are not of God. And the people who will run to meet them will be devoured.

The devil can use something that looks and acts like a lion (a legitimate thing) in order to carry some of the most evil intentions and most devilish actions. A true believer will run away from the prowling enemy instead of embracing him.

Interestingly, in 1 Peter 5:8, Peter said that the enemy will make noise while coming. He will be roaring like a lion and he will make noise. The fake roaring lion will even announce the day of his arrival (in some cases).This means that a true follower of Jesus will be able to hear him. Jesus was clear: ‘once his sheep hear the enemy’s voice, they will run away.

Divine wisdom calls for running away when the fake roaring lion announces himself. It’s not compulsory to respond to all the invites of the enemy.