Unwelcome Visitor
Saturday evening we heard loud birds in our backyard. My son and husband looked out the back sliding glass door and saw birds everywhere. Caleb steps outside onto the porch to scare them away. Next thing I know he is running through the front door. We first thought he was laughing because we couldn’t understand his words. He was actually telling us there was a snake on the back porch. We rushed to the door and there it was….right in the track where the screen door sits. That old snake looked at us and I took his picture, all the time trying to comfort Caleb. I could tell by his coloring and his words that he was very shaken up. By this time my husband was already outside getting his rake and hoe. The snake started slithering down the steps, and my husband was able to kill it. I was so thankful that Caleb did the right thing in coming to tell us and that he was safe from harm. I kept thanking God for protecting him. Whether it was a “helpful” snake or not, it didn’t matter at that point. I did not want my boy to be afraid to go out in our yard for fear of being surprised by this snake again. It was rather large and scary looking (as you can see in this picture)! The rest of the evening he wanted us close to him. I found myself looking around making sure I did not see any more snakes, even in the house as I opened cabinets and went into a new room. I didn’t want to be taken by surprise after that scare. I was more alert to my surroundings. I kept thinking of how close that big thing was to getting into our house and imagining what I would have done if I’d seen it inside.
As I thought about this event, I thought of how it applies to our spiritual lives. Our enemy is a sneaky serpent. He tricked Eve, and he continues to trick people today. Just as the snake snuck up on our back porch without our knowledge, Satan tries to sneak into lives. He disguises himself by things that may seem to be innocent, harmless fun. We even justify our actions, and those things that look innocent at first just lead to a deeper trap. We are so easily deceived, just as Eve was. Many times we aren’t even aware we are being deceived.
“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 Corinthians 11:3
If we aren’t careful we will be led off track and away from Christ. He desires our full devotion. We cannot be fully devoted if we are being led astray by the enemy and not paying attention.
Be careful how you live. Be alert. Watch out for snakes trying to get in through the back porch door.
Have a day of blessings!
Great analogy, Bethany. It’s so important to be on guard. Blessings.
Amen.
Holy Cow Bethany, that thing is HUGE! That would have scared me too. Isnt it sad that the serpents that slither around us daily do not seem to frighten us the same way. It should. Loved your post! 🙂
That is a big snake!!! I am glad that your husband was able to take care of it.
You are right; the enemy likes to get us off track so that we take a road that my not be a Godly road.