When most people think of a serpent in a Biblical context, the appropriate analogy of the devil or Satan comes to mind; many may even think of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Every time that I kill (or have to dispose of) a (rattle)snake the same imagery comes to mind and I will share it with you.
The best and most effective way to kill a snake is to separate its head from its body. This will render the snake swoon or dead...almost. For a considerably long time after the head is cut off, that deadly snake will be far from harmless. In my short career of snake killing, I have had the snake head vigorously attack the pointed end of my hoe as I am dealing a final fatal blow; if left alone the snake body (and likely the head) will wiggle for several hours after it has been decapitated; also, I had seen a rather large snake (perhaps 5' or more) blown into three pieces (via shotgun) with its full-grown head with less than 2 inches of body attached to it continue to run away and be completely undeterred in its mission. This last snake (see previous post) was no different. Though I must be getting more accustomed to wounding the snake enough to separate and quickly crush its head, I still shutter at its lethality and its devotion to thrive under fatal circumstances; additionally, the wiggling body is a constant reminder. Once the head is properly disposed of the body is harmless, but it has far from ended its actions.
This picture is more than one of the death of a single snake, more so it reminds me of the evil and sin in our/my own heart as characterized by the devil. The book of Genesis tells me that the offspring of Eve, that is Jesus Christ, will crush the head of the serpent. In other words, Jesus Christ, will/has completely and utterly destroyed Satan. Satan knows that his time is limited and that he has lost the war in eternity by shedding the blood of Jesus. However, Satan still continues to wiggle and fight for anything that he can get and though he will lose in the end, he will make our life full of fear and misery by wiggling his harmless, dead, (spiritual) body.
-Taylor
2 comments:
A well painted picture! I wonder, though, if Satan could be accurately described as harmless even though Jesus has dealt the death blow? That writhing serpent yet kills thousands everyday with his lies. I know what you mean, though, for those who are hidden in Christ need not fear the headless serpant-but neither should they play with it.
Resting in His grace and mercy,
Mama
There is a missionary story about a boy/young man in South America (I think) who is poking at a deadly spider with a very long stick. In an instant the spider lunges and begins to aggressively attack the annoying stick. The boy realizes then, that if the spider had lunged at him, then he would not have been swift enough to save himself. So you are right...while we are down here, we are never free from the pains of this world's evil, and that for those who have no hope in Glory, then there will be no freedom from suffering.
enJOY!
Taylor
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