Lessons That I Learned From a Dead Snake

Are you still with me?

I want you to know that I am talking about a dead snake though I realize that in the picture he appears to be very much alive. And that my friends is the bottom line for this post.

Josiah killed the snake on our farm. My son, the great white hunter had to display his kill, proving his triumph over the beast! I refused to mount it. Actually, he knew better than to ask!

I went out to look hoping that it wasn't a copper head or rattler (I have heard that out in masses this year). It wasn't. It was the "good" kind of snake that eats rats and mice.

The snake was dead. I could see the bullet wound. Evidence, half a head, a real gonner.

The snake's body was on the move as if he was alive, though. It coiled, straightened, twisted , rolled, turned, and looked as if it was very much alive. It was obviously dead, but if I was walking up to the patio without knowing the obvious, I surely would have screamed! It was a creepy sight!

There are several analogies that I have come up with since the body of the snake finally relaxed.

My first analogy:
Satan appears to have life in him sometimes. He disguises himself to appear as if he is the genuine lifegiver. I have fallen for his ploy at times. I can honestly share from experience ... there is no life in him ... none at all! Discernment needed!

Second:
People can walk around and appear to have life in them, going through the motions, pushing through their days, but they are completely depleted. Either they have never been attached to the lifegiving source (Jesus, John 15) or they have been but have pulled away. Where is the life? Motions are not evidence that we have it. Discernment needed!

Third:
Cholo, the dog walked right over the dead body without even wincing. Had he ever seen a snake before? I watched him to see what his reaction would be. Nothing. The snake's body might have well as been a rubber hose. Cholo had absolutely no fear! Perhaps he knew it for what it was ... a harmless, dead snake. Who has to fear that?
Discernment needed!

Fourth:
One of Josiah's friends, who just happens to be a girl, came over that night. The snake was no longer moving, but he still looked like a snake. Josiah had to show off his prey to her. He went out the door first to get the snake, evidence of his amazing hunting skills. Emily opened the door to follow him, saw the snake and ran back in the house screaming! I assured her that it was a dead snake ... a very dead snake, a fact that she cared nothing about. She was not going out there where that snake was! "He knows that I hate snakes!" The tests in friendship!
I opened the door and led the way for her, protecting her from a dead snake! Do you need me to protect you from snakes? Please make sure that they are dead first!

Emily was afraid of something that was no longer a threat to her. Does this make you think of the devil again? James says that the devil prowls and seeks someone to devour, warning, "resist the devil and he will flee from you!" If we resist him is he dangerous to us? Hmmmm! He sure would like to be! Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world! Once again, discernment needed!

I think the key to this analogy is to keep Jesus right in front of us and follow His footsteps so that the "snakes" in our lives remain powerless!

Fifth:
Josiah was intent on defeating the snake. Are we always intent on defeating, Satan, the serpent that would threaten to be in our lives? He can only defeat us if we allow him to. Do we welcome him, befriending our enemy? Or perhaps we are afraid of him. FEAR is:

Fasle
Evidence
Aappearing
Real

We don't have to be afraid of him. That gives him power, does it not?
It would be awesome if there were more like fearless Josiah in the kingdom.

Summary:
We must be aware that we have an enemy. He is real. He appears alive. He has no life to offer us! We can resist him. We do not have to be afraid of him. Jesus has defeated him. We need discernment. Just because we don't like snakes doesn't mean they just go away. The Lord has given us authority over them.

Do you have any snakes to be killed? The real creepy, crawly things? I will send the great white hunter your way!

How about the spiritual kind? May I suggest, get out your Sword (the Word) and aim for the head. He might twist about awhile, appearing like he still has power ... nah! No worries! The Sword works!

Thanks for sticking with me on this one!

**** Josiah's friend's name has been changed. I am still in protector mode.****