The lion is the king of the beast, not just for its stately walk and royal presence, but also as the apex predator that brings order to its environment. Their presence has a profound effect on the entire ecosystem in which they belong. In fact, like the reintroduction of the gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park, habitats flourish when the apex occupies his rightful place, and erosion spreads and life withers when he does not. And this gives us a clue to our need for the apex to return throughout our life and relationships.
On the one hand, this is simply a call to take our rightful place as true and noble kings in God’s kingdom – bringing order and life to our family and communities. Families crumble, hatred and bitterness spread, and darkness and death wear us down when we abdicate our role or otherwise become passive men. A world without the apex present becomes a wasteland.
But this is also true in our relationship with God. To be sure, we cannot become the men our family and society needs when we don’t recognize and live with God as the apex of our lives. We’re ineffective in the work God has called us to do when our hearts have grown dull, we harbor contempt toward our neighbor, or secret sins have poisoned our minds. We can only make a true impact for good when we’re seeking the kingdom of God above all else.
When Christ holds the preeminence in our life, and we take our place as lions and kings, then we can serve the world around us as an apex that creates room for life to flourish. Our presence brings healing, hope, and order to a world eroding and being consumed by darkness.
In the end, Christ reigns and brings life, and we’re called to do the same – to serve as an apex in our homes and communities that stops the erosion and allows life to flourish again.
