A MISSIONARY who spent fifty years in Africa told the story of a native boy who had attended the gospel meetings they had held in his village.
One day along with some of his companions he was out hunting. They were in full and eager pursuit of some animal when suddenly and unexpectedly the boy found himself face to face with a great lion, and almost touching him. His black face seemed as if it would turn white with fear, and his companions were almost as frightened as himself. They were a little farther off and saw his danger, but they were unable to help him. What could the poor boy do? What would the rear do in such a circumstance?
In that awful moment the poor boy thought of Jesus, the mighty Saviour, whose love is as great as His power, and of whom he had heard the missionary speak so often. In his terrible danger and distress he cried out, in the hearing of his companions: “O Jesus! save me now, and I will serve Thee forever!”
Soon after he had prayed, the King of beasts turned around and, without touching the boy, walked quietly off into the jungle, and disappeared.
The African lad never forgot that hour. Wherever he went the thought followed him, “Jesus saved me from that lion.” And he thought of another lion he had heard spoken of in the Bible, who though not seen with the natural eye, nevertheless is a real person, even Satan, who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8). Then he prayed earnestly to the Lord Jesus to deliver him from this lion, too, and the Saviour answered his prayer. Our little African found rest and peace in believing, and he became an earnest follower of the Saviour, who loves and gave Himself for sinners. He learned that the Lord Jesus by His death and resurrection had both saved him from the judgment of God against his sins and had overcome the power of Satan.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1). Furthermore, Satan cannot harm those that are “in Christ,” who have passed from death unto life, for they shall never perish and none can pluck them out of His hand (John 10:27-2927My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27‑29)).
No condemnation! — No separation! Nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35-3935Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35‑39).)
ML-02/02/1969