A MAN IN Kentucky recently drove his car to the bottom lands to do some work. Leaving the door open as he unloaded his tools, he returned just in time to see the tail of a snake disappearing inside his car.
Now most snakes are not poisonous but the pit vipers are. You can tell a pit viper by the deep pit in front of each eye — this family includes Copperheads, Rattlesnakes, and Water Moccasins. The man could not see the snake clearly but he did suspect that it was a water moccasin, so he didn’t feel like getting into his car as long as it was in there.
He had a nice car and he liked to ride in it, but something had gotten in and spoiled it for him. And this makes one think of the Garden of Eden which God made beautiful for man to enjoy. Through the serpent Satan entered that fair scene; he caused man to sin, and so sin has ruined all God’s wonderful creation. With sin came death; “wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). Sin brings death, more surely than the bite of a snake. We have all been bitten by the serpent; and yet how wonderful it is to read that though “the wages of sin is death,” “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
The man cautiously lifted the seats in his car and looked all around, but did not see the snake. Had he made a mistake? No, he knew the snake was in there somewhere. And we know that sin is in us for “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” He decided the only thing to do was to kill that snake — something he couldn’t see or touch. So he closed the doors and windows tight and filled the car with poisonous gas. A little later he found a good-sized water moccasin curled up dead under the dashboard.
Satan, “that old serpent, the devil” came into this world seeking to destroy man, but for the one who trusts in Jesus he is a defeated foe. The Lord Jesus by His death and resurrection has overcome the power of Satan, and the believer is delivered completely from sin’s guilt and power.
Now, dear young friends, you don’t have to know all about sin in order to be freed from it. If unsaved, take the Lord Jesus as your Saviour now while you’re young. Then you will be free from the bite of sin, you can go happily along life’s pathway and be at peace with God. Then if called to leave this world, as you surely will one day, you will not feel “the sting of death” which is sin (1 Cor. 15:5656The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)), but it will be like passing through a door into the joy and peace of the Saviour’s presence forever.
ML-12/06/1970