-bulletin note from Sunday, May 5, 2013
We had another rattlesnake in the yard the other day. Wendy looked out the window and there it was, warming itself on the concrete walk. I was working at church, so she called Nathan up from his shop to “rescue” her. He dispatched the offending creature with aplomb. When we have visitors at the house, we often notice the care with which they step out of the house and to their cars when leaving, after hearing accounts of our encounters with snakes. They are literally practicing what the Bible tells us we should always do when it comes to our walk of life. That is, they “walk circumspectly,” they walk looking all around them. We ought to do like our cautious visitors-walk watching where we place our feet. A careless and unguarded walk of life may seem for the moment a freeing experience, until one steps on that serpent of sin and feels the pain of the poison. Among the descriptive terms the Bible uses of Satan, one is “that Old Serpent.” Unlike the rattlesnake, who generally tries to get away from human contact unless cornered, the Old Serpent is seeking after victims. Though the Devil is subtle and subversive, the Lord has equipped all his children with the warning means necessary to avoid being taken in by him. We are warned by God’s Word, by preaching, by teaching, and by the promptings of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul said it this way, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Cor. 2:11 (For your consolation, we usually don’t see more than one rattler per season, so don’t refuse to come over on that account!)