Bible Truths: “Living Bold as a Lion”

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”   

Proverbs 28:1

If you had the choice of living bold, like a lion, or living in constant fear, which would you choose?  It goes without saying that we all would choose to live a bold, fearless life.

However, many people by choosing to commit sins in secret, choose a life of fear.  They constantly are afraid that they might get caught in their adultery, that they might get caught shoplifting, they might get caught cheating on their taxes, and so on.  When the door opens, they jump.  When they hear a police siren, their heart races.  Why?  Because they have chosen a life of secret sin.

In fact, when we look at God’s Word, we can see that sin does indeed produce cowardice, not boldness, in our lives.  The first sin of man took place when Adam ate the fruit that he was forbidden to eat.  What was his reaction?  Let us see…

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.  And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and hid myself.” Genesis 3:8-10

Before sin, Adam had nothing in the world to fear.  After his sin, he became a fearful creature, hiding in the trees from his loving Creator.  Sin had made Adam a coward.

Do we want to live our lives hiding from God and from others?  Is indulging in that secret sin really worth it?  Our adversary, the Devil, tries to convince us that sin is worth it.  Our flesh, no doubt, does get some satisfaction from sin for a short time.  However, the product of living a life of secret sin is a life full of fleeing and fear.

A Christian, however, walking in the light of God’s Word, waging war upon the lusts of our flesh, will not live in fear, he or she will live as bold as a lion.  That, no doubt, is the lifestyle that we all want!  How do we have that kind of life?

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness… Matthew 6:33

Seek God, through prayer and through His Word.  Seek His Righteousness, which is given to us through faith in His Only Begotten Son: Jesus Christ.  When we read the Bible and see where we fall short, make changes in our lives.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, forsake the sins that tempt us, live righteously, and live bold as a lion.  We are not made to live in fear!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7

Pastor Lee Smith