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Day 23: Serpent Safe
There was a time when doing what was right was more important than doing what would get you out of trouble. However, mankind now has determined to use the methods of the serpent to worm our way out of trouble or worse yet to deceive others for our personal gain.
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Genesis 3:1-7
In this story the serpent creates doubt in the woman’s mind by suggesting that the prohibition to eat fruit from the special tree is a way God is trying to keep her down and keep her away from being more powerful like He is. In reality God wants to live forever with Adam and Eve and doesn’t want them tainted by sin which He knows He will have to destroy to protect the universe. Satan the serpent tricks Eve into believing what isn’t true about God. And he tricks her into hurting herself and Adam.
Are there things you do today that you were curious about but now find hard to give up? Even if you have seen that they hurt you, is it hard to stop doing them? If so you’ve been lead away from safety by the serpent. And he’s taking us farther and farther away from God’s plan expressed in His word. But is there any way we can be serpent safe?
Make level paths for your feet to walk on. Only go on ways that are firm.
Proverbs 4:26
I remember wondering how the bible could say in Matthew 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” What would be so amazing that the very chosen of God would be deceived. But then I lived for 30 years. I watched more and more compromise enter church life. Sometimes it was in the name of social justice. Other times it was in the name of being up to date. Sometime it was in the name of reaching the unchurched. Eventually, I became confused as to what really was wrong and right.
Now we’ve come to a point where more and more things we used to protect ourselves and our children from are the fruit we eat daily. Do you see what I’m seeing? I’m frightened. I am affected. I understand Matthew 24:24 better.
When it comes to spiritual health as with physical health we may know that something is bad for us but because it feels good we do it anyway. And then we find it difficult to give up until a crisis comes. But often by then it is too late. The disease is terminal, the family breaks apart, the crisis blows up. So what is the remedy?
I Thessalonians 5:22 tells us “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” If someone promotes principles contrary to what the bible says, than tells you to buy their book or gospel album don’t you think you might want to give that a second thought? Matthew 7:16 reminds us “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” You wouldn’t drink from the sewer, would you? When we are told in proverbs to only go on ways that are firm it’s because when you make a pattern of doing what is questionable eventually you will find yourself doing things that you once new to be wrong and not be sure how you got there.
To find healing we need to leave alone what is questionable. As I grow older peace and safety become more important to me than adventure and excitement. It’s not that the thrills don’t have a place. It’s just that I’ve been hurt so much in this life that I want to choose green pastures and walk beside still waters. I want to stay close to my Savior. Take this week and eat only food that you know is good for you. In addition why not pray and ask God to help you only watch, read, or listen to that which will draw you closer to Him. It’s too late to take unnecessary chances. Jesus is coming soon.
Today I choose to be serpent safe remembering, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
