Henry Wiebe .com

The Tale of Two Lions

(September 28, 2002)

Once upon a time there were two lions. Both lions bore the appearance of strong healthy figures. They were both handsome and fearsome and declared themselves to be king of the forest. No one could tell the difference between the two except for the fact that they had a different nature.

One of the lions was proud and haughty and boasted of his mighty conquests continually. He was always claiming that no one was greater than himself while the other lion was meek and gentle. His humility was manifested in that he even declared that his father was greater than he and he only existed to give honor and glory to his father.

The haughty lion was very pushy and used force in order to coerce every other creature to submit to him. The good hearted lion only gave out invitations to join him and never forced anyone to obey him.

The proud lion continually brought accusations of evil against every other creature. He also accused the good lion of causing all of the chaos and damage that he himself perpetrated. Since the meek lion said very little or nothing, in defense of himself, most creatures actually believed the proud lion and sided in with him in condemning the meek one. The gentle lion always sought out the best in every one and never brought condemnation to any.

The proud lion had a tremendously huge following. Because the meek lion showed so much kindness and love, no one seemed to be afraid of him, but only came to him for help after the proud lion had caused them much pain and grief.

Those who had observed the skirmishes that the wild present, knew that the kind, gentle lion was actually much stronger and ferocious than the proud one. But because the proud lion was actually puffed up and boastful, most creatures never realized that he was actually very weak. His main strength was in the lies and deception. His main desire was for everyone to submit to him because they were afraid. His main objectives were stealing, killing, and destroying. It was evident that he had no concern or mercy even for those who offered him their allegiance and support. He delighted in causing pain and misery and never seemed satisfied. The more blood he tasted the more he desired to see spilled on the ground.

The tender-hearted lion observed all this with much grief, pity and patience. However, he never interfered because he knew that he was much stronger and would eventually be able to bring freedom and peace to all the creatures who desired it.

The lion of love had over many centuries written a book. This book contained the roadmap to real freedom. It told in many ways how every creature could be free and out from under the domination of the proud beast. Most of the book was written in such a way that only the very discerning and sensitive hearts would be able to understand. It was filled with historical events, allegory, parables, short stories and examples. It contains many proverbs and Psalms and beautiful songs. There were mysteries and beautiful love stories. There were even prophecies of future events many of which were clothed in symbolic language.

Almost everyone read the book a little. Some read it regularly but never wholeheartedly acted on its directions. There were only a few who longed for freedom enough to give themselves to study and know its contents well enough to give them the assurance that they could safely follow its instructions. These were the ones who actually came to the gentle lion so that their nature could become one with him. They recognized his purity of heart and purpose and submitted to him as their king.

The clever proud lion studied the book and in fact had it memorized. This he used against the good lion to turn the other creatures against him. He misquoted its contents, twisted its meaning, added to its instructions, lied about the author and told the other creatures not to read it for only he had the right interpretation. This left most of them in confusion. The proud beast quoted small portions from the book then quoting others from it elsewhere pointing out the ideas that it is very contradictory and cannot be relied upon.

The good lion authored the book out of a heart that desired justice and impartiality for he was no respecter to creatures. The proud lion defied that idea and claimed the good lion was prejudiced and unfair. Using certain portions of the book in which were recorded incidences when the good lion had come to the defenses of the poor and needy. He defamed the name of the meek lion calling him a warmonger and ruthless tyrant.

The kind lion met with his father to discuss how they might best free all the creatures from the bondage under which they served. In order to prevent this attitude of violence and hatred from bringing about more destruction, freeing them must be accomplished in a loving and gentle manner. The father asked his son if he was willing to become a lamb and even allow them to kill him in order to prove the love by which they loved all the creatures. He responded positively and said he was willing to lay down his kingship and become a lamb and even sacrifice himself.

The plans were discussed in detail and all provisions were made. The time came and the change occurred.

When the proud lion understood what had happened he was outraged. He swore in his wrath that he would kill the lamb. He terrorized all the creatures by attacking the smallest and most helpless and creating the greatest massacre they had ever seen. Soon the entire forest was weeping and mourning over the loss. But in every effort the raging beast made to destroy the lamb, his father made sure the lamb was protected.

As the lamb grew and developed he began to show his heart of compassion by his acts of love. He brought healing to many that the proud lion had wounded. He opened the locked doors of prison houses the evil lion had used to hold them captive. Those in the dark caves were given light with which to see. He brought hope to those who were hopeless and soon multitudes were following the lamb. They even tried to crown him as king, but he refused their honor knowing his father’s plan which was different than theirs.

It appeared to many in the forest that the hateful old lion would soon come to the end of his time. He devised one more scheme which might work to destroy the lamb. First he said, “I’ll bribe one of his followers in order to identify the lamb. Then I’ll accuse him of blasphemy in his claim that one as distinguished as King Lion is his father. Every creature in the forest knows that a lion would never propagate a little helpless lamb.” He planed this move to take place at night so that any of the animals that might come to the aid of the lamb would be fast asleep.

He soon stirred up rumors and gossip and accusations and sure enough one of the lamb’s own followers betrayed and sold him for a bag of silver. Soon the lamb was arrested and brought before its accusers. Those present were soon barking and howling insults and demanding his execution. “If his father is real King Lion, then he can come and save him,” they shouted. Soon they had every one convinced. They had sawn down a tree out of the forest and put together a rough crude cross. They drove spikes through the hands and feet of the lamb and nailed him to the cross. In his last dying effort to convince all creatures of his love and compassion he cried out and said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” Then for three hours the earth was engulfed in total darkness, and there was a tremendous earthquake. Some even declared that surely the lamb was actually a lion.

They took him down put him in a tomb, tightly sealed. But his father, King Lion came down and after three days and nights restored life to his son and crowned him to forever and ever be the uncontested King over all.

Now he is both the lion and the lamb. John 1:29, “Behold the lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.”

I Peter 5:8, “The devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.”

Revelation 7:13-15, “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, ‘What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they,’ and I said unto him, ‘Sir, thou knows.’ And he said to me, ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.’”

Have you knelt at the cross to have the blood applied for the cleansing from your sin?

You can do so right now.

Come to Him, He’s right there. Confess your sins and ask His forgiveness. He loves you and forgives your every sin. Just allow the tears of repentance and love to flow from your heart and eyes as He cleanses you and puts you in a clean robe acceptable to the Father. Then give Him your heartfelt praise and thanks.

If you have a Bible, study it feverishly. Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding. I suggest starting with the gospel of Saint John. If you don’t have a Bible, try to get one. If that seems impossible, ask Jesus to bring you one. Tell me about your experience, I’ll pray for you.