The Soul Eater

1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

I. INTRODUCTION -- THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO

In 1898, two male lions stalked the construction region of what is now known as the Kenya Railways. Before the two lions would be hunted down, they killed 135 Indian and African laborers. There was a British officer in charge of building a railroad bridge over the Tsavo River. Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Patterson spent nine months pursuing the pair before bringing them to bay and killing them. He wrote about his quest in a book entitled The Man-Eaters of Tsavo. Interestingly this book remains in print despite being written in 1903-04.

-I read about this in the April 2002 issue of National Geographic magazine in an article Maneless Lions in Kenya. As I read about the fierceness and terror that lions can strike in the hearts of their prey, my mind drifted to the passage that I read from 1 Peter.

-As I read about the characteristics of these lions, I begin to think of how the devil can be a lion and bent on the destruction of the saint of God. For that we reason, we must heed the words of Peter to be sober and to be vigilant.

A. Your Adversary, The Devil

1. General Quotes

T. Adams -- The devil is no idle spirit, but a vagrant, runagate walker, that never rests in one place. The motive, cause, and main intention of his walking is to ruin man.

Herbert -- No sooner is a temple built to God, but the devil builds a chapel hard by it.

Thomas Watson -- Why does this lion so roar but for his prey? He envies the soul its happiness, he lays the whole train of temptation to blow up the whole fort-royal of the soul. Why does he use such suitable baits?

Thomas Watson -- Why does he tempt to Delilah’s lap, but to keep you from Abraham’s bosom? The devil is angling for the precious soul; to undo souls is his pride; he glories in the damnation of souls; it is next to victory to die revenged. If Samson must die, it is some comfort that he shall make more die with him; if Satan, that lion, must be kept in his hellish den, it is all the heaven he expects, to reach forth his paw, and pull others into the den with him.

2. Biblical Quotes

John 8:44 KJV Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Psalms 10:9-10 KJV He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. [10] He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

Revelation 13:6-8 KJV And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. [7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. [8] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 13:39-40 KJV The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Psalms 7:1-2 KJV O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: [2] Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

-This “soul-eater” has a destructive capacity that is terrible to even imagine. Despite that fact, he is constantly working to deceive, disrupt, and destroy everything that he can in our day.

B. Examples of His Subversion

-Scattered throughout the Scriptures are many examples of how he deceived men into trading their souls to him.

• Adam gained a very worldly wisdom but lost fellowship with God.

• Cain gain self-satisfaction but lost the presence of God.