It Is Your Choice

Would you rather be known as a sheeple or someone known to be lion-hearted?

The definition of Sheeple according to dictionary.com: “people who are like sheep in being meek, conforming, or easily led: Maintaining fear, division, and hate is a priority – sheeple are easier to herd when frightened.”  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary: “people who are docile, compliant, easily influenced: people likened to sheep.”

The definition of Lion-hearted according to dictionary.com: “exceptionally courageous or brave”.  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary: “courageous, brave.”

You would think that the answer to my question would be simple – an easy choice.  After all, who would ever want to think of themselves as being meek, easily led or influenced?  I cannot imagine anyone sitting back thinking that is how they want to live their life or to be viewed that way by others.  

I understand that sometimes for unknown reasons, there are people that their personality leans more toward meekness, being compliant, etc.  However, I do not believe that they would necessarily choose that willingly.  Is it not more attractive to think of yourself as being courageous and brave? 

I did some research and this is what I found:

Sheep actually are more intelligent than many give them credit for, but the facts are, they are not strong or independent, basically making them defenseless in the face of danger.  They do much better staying in a group, but if not managed with a handler or being enclosed with a fence they will tend to wander off and get lost.  Think about it – if a sheep is faced with danger they do not have anything at all that would help them be a fighter.  If they are in a group and danger presents itself, the entire herd will panic and just begin running in circles.  They are too slow to be able to escape by trying to run away.  They have no claws, fangs, poison or ominous warning sound to frighten their attacker.  They know how to sense danger and will be frightened – but other than that, they will be an easy target.  They likely could view almost any other animal as a predator.  That is why it is critical for sheep to have a reliable, strong leader to keep them safe.    

Conversely, if you are considered to be lion-hearted, then you will be viewed to have traits that are more aligned with the lion.  Lions are glorious animals that are large and very muscular  – the females are generally between 5 and 6 feet long and weigh between 240-316 pounds; while the males are between 6 and 7 feet long and weigh between 350-496 pounds.  Lions can bring down prey that is much larger because they are quick and have deadly jaws that can kill the target in a flash by going for the throat.  They have extremely strong, sharp, long claws (up to 1½ “ long) and a frighteningly loud roar.  They normally live together in small groups and have their own pecking order for authority.  Generally they will hunt at least in pairs but do sometimes go out alone.  They are not called the King of the Jungle for no good reason; and, they really have no natural predators except for humans and other lions, as long as they are in good health.

We seem to have fostered a whole lot of sheeple in this nation over the years.  You do not see a lot of people that are willing to go out and do things alone – they always want to have someone with them.  It is as though companionship is their security blanket.  It seems to start with children, especially when they get into middle and high school where the groups seem to take on the personality of the strongest person in that group.  If that person tends to be more quiet spoken and calm, that is how that group will be.  If the leader is more of a bully, then you will have a group that acts accordingly.  People that are more insecure will sometimes be attracted to a group of stronger people that will then challenge them to act in ways they would never consider when alone.  They want to feel loved and included and will take on the group’s challenges to sometimes do the unthinkable – such as acts required of people to be included in lawless gangs.  I believe that many times the biggest bully is the person that needs love and acceptance the most.  They think that acting big and brave and challenging others gets them respect.

Examples of sheeple today are the anarchists that have been rioting and looting in some of our cities.  Many times you have a relatively small group of trouble-makers that position themselves into a larger group of people then manage to get them worked up into a frenzy.  They shout obscenities, break things, steal things and do all they can to instill fear into everyone around them.  It results at times with people that were just at a location to peacefully voice their opinion on some matter being sucked into doing the unimaginable – many of them having no idea what is really going on and why.  Then you have the sheeple on the outside looking at this, behaving like a herd of sheep that sense the danger, become fearful, then just run around in circles bleating their puny little “baa”.  This fear just feeds their enemies, encouraging them to continue their behavior.

What would happen if that larger peaceful group behaved like lions when that small group of instigators moved into their group trying to stir up trouble?  What if the people on the outside looking in did not cringe in fear and began to roar, standing up to their tyranny?  What if we had more people being lion-hearted instead of bleating weak sheep?  Do you think those predators would stick around?  I really do not think they would.  It is time for the normal, average, freedom-loving citizens of this nation to take this country back!  It is time for us to be lion-hearted, after all, we have the Lion of Judah on our side!  Keep in mind that the agitators, the anarchists are the true sheeple and when the lion-hearted decide to stand against them they will tuck tail and run. 

“The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off even when no one’s after them; Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.”  Proverbs 28:1 (TLB)

“…the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything…” Proverbs 30:30 (NLT)

“Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart.” 1 Peter 5:8 (TLB)  [Emphasis mine]  Please note that it says “like” a hungry roaring lion.  Satan, our enemy – is a pretender.  With the Word of God in our hand and in our mouth we have the power over him.  I like the way The Message translation puts 1 Peter 5:8-11:  “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”   

Let me ask you this – does the following statement sound familiar?  “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.  What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.  What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.   They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.”  It sounds like it could be a quote from some article speaking about what is going on in America today, doesn’t it?  But it is not.  That is Isaiah 5:20-23 (NLT)  God’s chosen people had drifted from Him and that was the result – behavior that had everything upside down and backwards – just like what we are seeing today in America.

I fear for this nation if we do not take the major threats to our way of life seriously.  If we do not look heavenward to our God and step up to do our share – to carry our part of the load – we are going to regret it.  We have cowered in the corner like timid sheep long enough, running in circles with fear in our eyes and hearts – when all the while we truly do have the heart of a lion within us.  Are you going to be a sheeple?  Or are you going to be a lion?  

It is your choice!

Written by Karran Martin – November 7, 2020