Our grandson, Calvin Duprie, who is four' was excited to tell me that from their Christmas trip to Australia and the East he had brought us a present. I asked, "What is it Calvin?". He answered with a laugh in his little voice, "A Komodo dragon!". "Oh no!", I replied. " I will keep him in the back yard!" Calvin's quick response was, "No! In the house!". We haven't seen the dragon yet. I am hopeful it is one we can keep in the house.
The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world. They can get to be nine feet in length. They are flesh eaters and, on occasions, that has been humans. They live on some Asian islands and can chase down small deer that live there. They are fearsome creatures.
The "Year of The Dragon" in the Chinese New Year has a more mythical creature played out with paper ones for their street parades. Some may be fifty or more feet in length. This year is supposed to be a "good" year under the dragon. Comic books and movies are filled with dragons.
Did you know the Bible has it's dragon? It is not a mythical creature but one very real, and extremely dangerous. He is alive and he is here among us.
"and there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth and his angels with him." (Revelation 12:7-9)
"woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you.! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short."
You will remember his appearance in the Garden of Eden. You also will recall his visit with Jesus as the Lord prepared for his public ministry. The Dragon pulled out every temptation possible that might bring the downfall of a hungry Man in the wilderness.
This is "the year of the dragon" for Believers. Every year is. He is a furious enemy because He knows his time is running out. He wants to be, not in our backyard, but in our den and workplace and car. He is as real as the ones who pad about Komodo Island, but far more dangerous. They can only destroy a body. This Dragon is after both body and soul.
