From Cubs to Kings

Anyone watch the Lion King?  I just recently revisited the movie and honestly the story is compelling to see the journey that a lion cub must take to be the king.  That little cub Simba had to go through every kind of challenge to be the Lion King.  And maybe this isn’t too far from reality, and a metaphor for encouragement for us. 
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And it might not be so surprising to know that the chances that a lion cub would become the king of a lion pride is quite low, and possibly near impossible.  Really only about 12% of lion cubs even make it into adult life, which is wild to think.  When lions are born, they are born blind and deaf.  You are completely helpless, and it isn’t only until one month lion babies are able to run.  The mother of the cubs must leave the pride to give birth and have her full attention on the cubs to give them a possible chance of survival.  Cubs will only have about 50% chance of surviving their first year and it doesn’t get easier after the first year.  The chance of survival through the second year of birth decreases at about 20% and only then12% will make it to adulthood. 

Lions are born in an environment that is violent, harsh, and at any moment these lions can be expired before they can even become an apex predator.  When you are a lion in its first couple of years born, you can get killed by hyenas, territorial elephants, eagles, and are more prone to getting diseases.  But the number one threat to the survival of young lions are other lions.  25% of lions will get killed by other lions.  So, once you make it past childhood and the awkward teenage years, you become a young adult.  This is the time you must leave the protection and comfort of your pride.  You must go on your own to make your own pride.  And being born in a hostile environment that preys on the weak and solo, you have little chance of finding any kind of success. 

In these “alone” years young adult lions will find themselves in the wastelands of the wilderness.  Living off a land that is undesirable to other apex predators.  But these are the years that young lions hone in on their craft and skill, and the years that they have to learn and be smart.  Young lions learn not to cross over to other territories and in this time the chance of survival increases when the young lions will meet a group of other roaming nomad lions like themselves.  They find in each other protection, friendship, and cooperation in being more successful in the art of hunting.  Young lions will be vulnerable on their own, but many times they just need only one companion to gain success.

But if a young lion is able to navigate the loneliness, not cross into other predators territory and learned to survive in areas that aren’t too suitable to live, all those things that a young lion go through, can make them stronger.  Sometimes to be the King the young lions have to go through the struggle. 

Now, let’s look at Jesus, you know… the King of kings.  Look at everything He had to go through.  His birth, which we will celebrate soon, had its enormous challenges.  His mother being a teenager, father nearly leaving them, traveling while pregnant, then coming to be born outside in an animal stable, and only to be celebrated with a few, alone and isolated.  And the struggle for Jesus does not end there.  Because after Jesus was born, his family and Him had to run away to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath and insanity.  Remember, Herod went nuts and ordered every child killed three years or younger. 

But Jesus, soon to be the King of kings, survived the purge and genocide, returned back to the land, and showed everyone what the true King shall do, and speak.  The true King of king’s power is not on physical might, but on true love, confidence, mercy, and forgiveness. 

Jesus knew in order to be King, He had to go through the sickness of the world, and the suffering or being misunderstood.  But Jesus also survived by finding allies in His disciples to carry out the Good News to all people.  And to this day, the law and decree of the King of kings’ reigns with us, who are now welcomed in His Father’s arms. 

So, just remember, you may find yourself struggling.  If you find yourself feeling blind and deaf, and feeling like taking steps forward is difficult, it is ok.  Lions of the Savannah had to go through it.  If you feel alone, scared, and having a hard time adapting to your surroundings, it is ok, because the soon to be king of the Savannah, the lion, had to go through it as well. 

As a lion takes are arduous path to be a king, just as Jesus the King of kings did the same, remember you may find yourself in that same path.  But have hope, because the things you go through now, you will overcome and find victory over the obstacles.  And your victories will only build you up to feel like a king. 

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