Bradley was an energetic, fun-loving 10-year-old boy who lived in South Florida. One day Bradley and his parents, along with some other friends, were canoeing down the Loxahatchee River in Jonathan Dickinson State Park. This is a shallow, winding river with a lot of lush, tropical plants lining the banks. People enjoy paddling their canoes and seeing the many birds and animals in their natural surroundings.
People from other states specially enjoyed seeing the alligators, and there were many in the river. The park rangers warned visitors about staying out of the water and not feeding them. Alligators have a natural fear of man, but they can lose that fear if fed by people. However, it is a common practice for canoeists to get out of their canoes to push off when they are grounded on a sandbank or stuck in tree roots and to go swimming when they get too hot.
Bradley and his parents and friends were wading in the shallow water when his father suddenly missed him. Seeing something white being pulled through the water, the father grabbed at it to find it was Bradley’s T-shirt. Trying to pull his son out of the water, he felt him being tugged back in. To his horror the father discovered that a huge alligator had Bradley in his jaws! He grabbed his son’s leg and held on while others began beating the’ gator with canoe paddles.
The alligator finally let Bradley go, and his father and the others wrapped the T-shirt tightly around him to try to stop the severe bleeding. Paddling feverishly, they reached the nearest place where they could call for help. Soon Bradley was being airlifted by helicopter to the nearest hospital, but he was too badly injured, and it was not long before he died of a fractured skull.
This alligator reminds us of a far worse enemy who is trying to deceive and, in the end, destroy. Some think the devil is just a joke, but the Bible, God’s Word, tells us, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)).
Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, and he has been trying to deceive mankind ever since. But Jesus defeated the devil at the cross of Calvary where He died for our sins. Someday the devil is going to be cast into the lake of fire forever. But all those who have believed that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and have accepted that wonderful redemption are safe forever in Jesus’ hands.
If that had been you instead of Bradley, would you be in heaven now? Jesus is coming soon to take all Christians up to be with Himself in heaven. All people need to be sure that they are ready. Are you?