Rattlesnakes are endemic to the Americas, ranging from southern Canada on the northern continent to Central Argentina in South America. If we step into nature in the Americas, we’re likely to encounter one of God’s most iconic animals.
After all, he created 32 species of this diverse and adaptable creature.
Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal. On top of that, rattlesnake bites are relatively rare. Humans are not on the rattlesnakes’ dinner menu. Rather, they wish to be left alone by humans, and will only strike after giving fair warning.
Even then they run scared, hoping they can get away from us before we come after them.
We still have to watch out for the rattlesnakes, though. Most bites come from people innocently stepping over a log or rock, and surprising an unwary snake, only to have it lunge at them in fear, and striking in an instinctive bid for freedom and safety.
If we can see the rattlesnakes, we can avoid them completely. We can go around, back away, and even warn others, once we know their location.
The same is true with spiritual rattlesnakes.
James 2:10 tells us:
“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.”
All it takes is one blind moment, and we have stepped on the snake. That’s when he strikes.
2 Timothy 3:13 says:
“While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
It’s the hidden snakes that take us unaware. The ones in the open are easy to bypass. Snakes find safety in camouflage, a form of visual deception.
Revelation 20:10 tells what God plans to do with our spiritual rattlesnakes:
“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
God calls it his extermination plan.
There is one more thing we can do to be safe from rattlesnakes. If we clamber about, stomp our feet, and generally make a lot of noise, the snakes will slither away in fear before we even get close. They are more scared of the noise than they are of us, and they will not hang around.
Spiritual rattlesnakes are the same. If we clamber around in Jesus, stomp our feet with the power of God, and generally make a lot of noise praising our Heavenly Father, the devil and all his minions will slither away before we even get close. They are more scared of God than they are of us, and they will not hang around.
Let’s shout in Jesus’ name. When we do, all the bad stuff will evaporate from around us.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
Code: FGO.A.14.15.vp
Originally Published in Hope on 3-17-15