A 33-year-old man from Lake Elsinore, California, was walking down a gravel road behind his house with his young nephew. Strolling along, they came across a four-foot-long, live rattlesnake on the roadbed.
The man saw his chance to take a one-of-a-kind selfie. The selfie would be impressive and garner him a lot of attention on the Internet.
Maneuvering behind the snake, he deftly put the sole of his shoe on the back of its neck, pinching it to the ground so it couldn’t move. Then bending over, he picked up the snake, holding it with one hand behind its head and the other hand near the tail. Next, he draped the snake like a feathered boa around his neck and shoulders. He held the snake still for a few seconds until it felt like the reptile had calmed down. Then, he let go of the snake’s head to reach for his smartphone in his pocket in order to snap the selfie.
The instant he released it, the snake lashed out and sank its teeth into his hand, injecting poison through its hollow upper fangs!
As fast as he could, the man threw the snake off his shoulders to the ground. Within seconds, the quick-acting poison went to work, causing an intense pain and swelling. Trembling as he held his cell phone, he called 911, explaining he was bitten by a rattlesnake and gave his location. (Over 800 snakebites are reported every year in California.) A short time later paramedics rushed him to a hospital where he received emergency medical attention. Doctors were able to save the man’s life, but several days later they were still not certain they would be able to save the man’s hand, which had turned black from the poison. If the man loses his hand, it would be a very steep price to pay for his foolishness.
Deadlier Than a Rattlesnake
I think most people would shun ever draping a live rattlesnake around their necks, but there is something even deadlier that has become all too familiar to us and that we hold close to ourselves: That something is sin.
What is so deadly about sin? Sin brings about the death of the soul. God has said, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)). Death always carries with it the idea of separation. Physical death is separation of the soul from the body. Spiritual death is separation of the soul from God. Those who pass out of this world in a state of sin will pass into a lost eternity where they will be forever separated from God and His goodness and grace.
What brings them to that place of suffering and endless pain? Sin and the love of it. They draped it about their heart, firmly believing it would do them no harm, not knowing and not caring that “the sting of death is sin” (1 Corinthians 15:56).
A selfie is a visual record that is often posted on social media. Once posted, it becomes virtually impossible to erase. Sin is like that too. God knows all about us. Once we have committed sin, we might forget about it. After all, we do have faulty memories and faulty judgment, and we like to conveniently forget about things that trouble us. But God doesn’t forget our sins. “God requireth that which is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:1515That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15)). In His patience He might bear long with our sins, but He will never just forget them. He knows the sins we have committed, with the perfect knowledge that He knows all things. Someday He will bring each person that has not received His gift of forgiveness into judgment for what they have done in this life.
God Forgives
God’s way isn’t to forget about sin; it is to forgive sin. To make a way that sinners might be forgiven, He sent His Son into the world. The Lord Jesus went all the way to Calvary’s cross where He died in the sinner’s place. The pure and sinless Lamb of God gave His life for others. On the cross, He paid the penalty for sin (death) for all those who believe. At the cross, His blood was shed so that sinners might have the ugly stain of sin washed away once and forever. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
The gifts of forgiveness and cleansing are now being offered to every man, woman and child in the whole world. It is a gift received the moment a person puts their wholehearted trust in the Saviour. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)).
Some people might rashly think they don’t need the Saviour because God will never call them into judgment for their sins. What a terrible mistake they are making! The man who attempted taking a selfie with the snake draped around his neck made a terrible mistake. He had no grounds for believing the snake would not bite. Those who reject Christ are making a terrible mistake too. They have absolutely no grounds for believing they will escape God’s judgment against sin.
The man bitten by the rattlesnake sought medical help at once. Won’t you realize the seriousness of your sins and come to the Saviour that you might be saved?
Discover the danger of following impulses and ignoring God in I Just Couldn’t Help Myself.