"Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8
The ant lion, sometimes called the doodlebug, looks like a large dragonfly when fully grown. The name "ant lion" comes from its activity in its larval stage. As a larva, it has a special appetite for ants. An ant caught in its jaws will not be able to escape, because the ant lion has strong jaws, which are the largest part of its body.
The ant lion has an interesting way of catching ants. It digs a cone-shaped pit about two inches deep in sand or loose soil. This trap looks like a miniature volcano. It buries itself at the bottom of the pit, leaving only its jaws and part of its head exposed.
An ant coming to this pit is curious and goes to the edge to look inside. On the rim it loses its footing in the loose sand and falls down the steep side. It tries again and again to climb back up the sides, but the surface is too loose and it finally slides to the bottom. The ant lion quickly grabs it in its sickle-shaped jaws and makes a meal of it. The ant lion sometimes attracts ants to the pit by throwing sand or little pieces of gravel into the air.
We might wonder how this little creature knows how to build its trap and how to attract its victims. The larva knows how to do this just as soon as it hatches, without having had a lesson or having learned by watching others. This is another example of an instinct given by the Creator to enable His creatures to survive through immature periods of their lives.
The ant lion's methods remind us of the great enemy of our souls, Satan, who has many traps set to catch us. One of these is a natural curiosity on our part to want to explore things of the world that only lead to sin and unhappiness. The Bible tells us that Satan is the god of this world, and we can never stand up against him in our own power.
However, there is One who is mightier than Satan, the Savior of all who trust in Him. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). He has provided an armor that allows us to stand against this wicked enemy. Those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior are urged to "put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." This armor includes the "shield of faith," the "helmet of salvation," and the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (See Eph. 6:11-17.)
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are a servant to sin and Satan. You need to find an escape from his trap. Escape is only by turning to Christ, confessing that you are a sinner and accepting Him as your Lord and Savior. You will find Him ready and able to release you from Satan's grasp.