What a hot afternoon it was on the South Dakota prairie. John decided to take his young son Marc down to the Missouri River for a swim. It seemed like the best way to cool off on such a hot day.
Marc floated on a piece of driftwood, dangling his feet in the water as John swam along beside him. They both were enjoying the cool water.
Suddenly Marc screamed and jumped from the driftwood. John could tell from his screaming that he was in severe pain. John carried him right to shore. Within five minutes Marc was vomiting and looked awfully sick. John quickly discovered what had happened to Marc. A poisonous water snake had bitten him underneath his fourth toe - just one single puncture wound. Grabbing Marc, John put him in the car and drove as fast as he could to Dr. Van’s office.
Dr. Van was very concerned. He told John later it was the worst snakebite case he had ever seen. He gave Marc a shot of antivenin immediately to act against the poison from the snakebite. Then Dr. Van rushed Marc to an air ambulance helicopter, and he was flown to a larger city hospital.
Poor Marc had to have more of the antivenin while he was in the helicopter. Then when he got to the hospital he had to have an emergency operation to help fresh blood circulate to his toes. Everyone was so relieved and happy that Marc did not die from his snakebite. He didn’t even lose any of his toes!
Marc did come very close to dying from the snakebite. God’s Word, the Bible, tells us of a sting that is much worse than a snakebite. It is the sting of sin, and it results in death (1 Corinthians 15:5656The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)). Only people who get too close to snakes are bitten by them, but every single one of us has sinned! God tells us plainly, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). Just as Marc needed an antivenin to cure him from the snakebite, every one of us needs a cure for our sins. There is only one cure for sin, and that is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
Dr. Van gave Marc the antivenin for the snakebite and he was soon well. You must decide if you will accept God’s cure for sin. If you will trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour now, you will be saved from the sting of everlasting death. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
ML-12/19/2004