John A. Hunter was one of the best-known hunters in British East Africa. He was called to that country by the Kenya Game Department. As a professional hunter, he was asked to rid the territory of a recently-increased lion population that was raiding the natives’ cattle and threatening their whole way of life. Many natives had been killed as they tried to protect their cattle, using spears, which were the only weapons they had.
At one of the camps where John was staying, a very strange thing happened. He had always thought that wild animals are afraid of fire. He and other hunters were sure lions would never approach a campfire.
One evening while camped at the Masai Reserve, John was sitting beside a big campfire. The natives that were helping him hunt the lions were curled up asleep in their blankets beside the fire. John was staring into the fire, his thoughts many miles away.
Suddenly, he realized he was looking into the faces of nine lions that had come out of the shadows and were standing facing him. They had been attracted by the body of a zebra, which had been killed and dragged near the campfire. The zebra was to be used the next day as bait for the lions. But now, as John sat staring at the lions, he didn’t know if he or the zebra was the bait!
He did not dare move. His rifle was in his tent. He could only sit motionless and watch them. The lions studied him carefully. Then they slowly walked around the sleeping natives to the other side of the campfire and attacked the dead zebra.
There are many people today who are fast asleep and don’t realize they are in danger. They are sinners, and Satan has “blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4). They are asleep in their sins and cannot do anything to help themselves. They need someone to help them. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Person who can help sinners. He died on the cross for our sins and can wash them all away, if we will just ask Him. What about your sins? Have they been washed away in His precious blood? “Awake thou that sleepest... and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:1414Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:14).
The lions tore into the zebra carcass with growls and snarls, ripping off great strips of hide as though the thick skins were paper. As the lions were busy with the zebra, John slowly lifted off his camp seat and cautiously inched toward his tent, his flesh tingling with every move. The lions stopped eating to glare at him. He felt very small and helpless beside those great beasts. With just a couple of bounds they could have been on top of him. Meanwhile, the natives lay soundly sleeping only a few feet from them. John wanted to make a dash for the rifle, which was in his tent, but he was afraid that any sudden movement might bring on a charge. He waited until the lions had returned to their feeding and then moving slowly, foot by foot, he reached the tent and ducked inside.
John now had his rifle, but this didn’t solve his problem. If he fired, the natives would leap to their feet, placing themselves between him and the lions. He became aware of something else: the chain around the zebra’s neck, which had been used to drag it to camp, was making a clanking noise. As the lions fought over the carcass, they banged the chain up and down. John was afraid that this noise would waken the natives, and when they saw the lions they would panic. To have terror-stricken natives bolting about among nine lions was not a pleasant thought. He quickly decided it would be better to shoot. Taking careful aim at the largest lion he fired, hitting it squarely. At the sound of the shot the other lions drew back a few feet and then sprang again on the carcass. The natives continued to sleep.
John fired shot after shot at the lions. He killed three more before the rest of them ran off into the darkness. Although it seems impossible, the natives were still fast asleep! Neither the noise made by the lions nor the gun shots had disturbed them. Several times John had noted this trance-like sleep of the natives, but never before had he seen such a remarkable example of it.
John built up the fire, and then he went around kicking the soles of the natives’ feet. One of them awoke, stretched, and sat up. He yawned and then saw the four dead lions lying within a few feet of him. The poor man gave a wild yell and leaped straight up into the air! Shrieking, he ran into the tent with the rest of the natives right behind him! They sat in the tent shivering in fright while John explained what had happened. In a few minutes they were all asleep again, lying on the floor of the tent.
The natives had been saved from attack by the actions of John Hunter. They were helpless to defend themselves in the face of such strength. Before we are saved we, too, are helpless in the face of Satan’s power. It is only through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross that Satan has been defeated. If you will take the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then you will have His strength and power to resist Satan. He has promised that “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37). Then you will have “the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:1111Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11). Won’t you accept Him right now as your Saviour? He is coming back very soon to take to heaven everyone who has put their trust in Him. If you are still “asleep in your sins” when He comes, it will be too late!
“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-3735Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35‑37).
ML-03/29/1981