It often seems so hard
to erase the child that lives deep within each of us. One of my middle aged
relatives recently saw a snake in the middle of the road. He attempted to pick it up as he had done with
other snakes many times throughout his childhood, but this one was different. What he believed to be a non-poisonous hognose
snake ended up being a pigmy rattler with an unforgettable sting.
It seems that humans are attracted to the
thrill of grasping danger, just for a moment, and conquering without repercussion.
We may feel like we have seized the day when we toy with the danger of a small
lie, an inappropriate comment, a guiltless flirt or even a more grievous sin,
until… we are bitten. Paul warns the Corinthians of deception when he said,
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your
minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
(2 Cor. 11:3).
I can relate to this risky story as my
snakebite is still burning and swollen. Prior to the bubble bursting in the
real estate world, my husband and I decided to get involved in some real estate
investments on the beach. Did we need this property for our basic necessities of
food, clothing or lodging? No, we were deceived with the idea that it was a
relatively innocent investment with minimal fall out!
Not long after we had
extended ourselves with the bank, the development fell apart and the bottom
dropped out of the real estate market. Our partners bankrupt and I’m still
bewildered as to how the value of anything could travel so far upside down. If
we had been purely devoted to Christ, like the ancient scripture suggests,
maybe we would not have been led astray by the snake in the middle of the road!
Michele
Michele
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