Monday, September 29, 2014

Snakes in our paths

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Snakes in our paths
As I was leaving for work this morning I was surprised by a Copperhead that slithered up on the driveway underneath my car right in my path.  It unnerved me so terribly that I froze.  I finally realized I could get in my car because he was closer to the other side of the car and then I could run over it.  I jumped in my car, all the while thinking that this snake was going to race over and attack my ankles.  I started the car, backed up and tried three times to flatten him like a pancake but to my utter dismay, he slithered off the other side of the driveway and into the tall grass, right by our trash can – and the bag of trash I had tossed outside so I could put it in the trashcan when I left.  Needless to say, the trash bag is still lying outside and will probably be covered with ants when I get home.  But I was not going anywhere near it.  My skin is still crawling and my whole day has been knocked off kilter. 
This experience made me stop and think about snakes and their representation of Satan.  Snakes are just so creepy. They are sly and sneaky. If you aren’t paying attention, you might not see them before they strike.  You have to be mindful and always looking closely where you step.  The snake that was in the garden with Eve has been connected with Satan and it was very sly, cunning and tricky.  He knew exactly how to captivate Eve.  After all, snakes are not supposed to talk.  He laid it all out for her in the most appealing way and that is exactly how Satan still works on us today.  He knows how to captivate us, distract us from God, and he tells us exactly what we want to hear.  He is sneaky, sly, cunning and waiting to strike.  Even when he crosses our paths it can shake us up and throw us off just like the snake did to me this morning. 
Be Vigilant
When you know the snakes are there, you have to be vigilant and you cannot let your guard down.  Earlier this spring we killed another copperhead on our front porch.  Right after that happened, I was extremely vigilant, always looking where I was stepping and all around the territory.  Then after a while, I didn’t see any more snakes and I stopped being so careful.  I let my guard down and then today I was taken off guard.  I was lucky.   I could have been bitten by that snake easily.  I was in a rush, not paying attention and talking on the phone. 
We have to be the same way about snakes in our spiritual life.  Satan likes for us to let our guard down so he can take us by surprise.  Sometimes we expect an attack from him and we are ready but the dangerous moments in our lives are when we are caught unaware.  The verse above says the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  He is waiting and watching for our weak moments so he can attack. He could also show up when we have had a really great event or victory in our life and we are celebrating.  He can also use our thoughts or get inside our heads and hearts if we are not careful to keep him out. 
Satan not only wants to cause us to stumble, but he wants to do anything possible to cause us to be ineffective for the kingdom of God.  If we are hurting others and making choices that do not glorify God, not only are we are ineffective for God’s kingdom, but we are helping Satan and his cause.  Satan is cunning and crafty.  He is a relentless adversary and not to be taken lightly.  We must not bury our heads in the sand and wish him and all his demons away.  He is real and he is on the move and he is dauntless enough to even test the Son of God himself.  Be vigilant in everything you do.

Scripture to Claim:

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.   James 4:7

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