ONCE when we were down on the plains of Venezuela, we met a lady who told this interesting story. When she was young, she and her husband were on their honeymoon and they stayed overnight at a cattle ranch.
In the morning, as they sat outside having their breakfast, she noticed something very strange going on. A young heifer seemed to be pulling away from a rope attached to its nose, and then it seemed to be drawn back again. As she looked more carefully she saw that it was a great snake. Some of the water snakes there grow to twenty feet long. This snake had its teeth fastened in the muzzle of the heifer and was gradually exhausting the poor creature. Finally it would have crushed the animal and swallowed it.
The lady called the rancher at once and he hurriedly sent two men to the rescue. With their long knives they soon made short work of the snake, for they cut it in pieces and so saved the heifer.
This is another reminder of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can deliver us from the power of “that old serpent, called the Devil,... Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Rev. 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)). Men and women, and boys and girls, are taken captive by him at his will, as we read in 2 Timothy 2:2626And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:26), and only the Lord Jesus can set us free. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:88He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8).
Satan is a real person—the enemy of God and man. He would not be more real if you saw him. Though defeated he is still at large in this world and goes about ever seeking to destroy the souls of men. But to faith he is a defeated foe, and the Christian is told to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jas. 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7). Satan cannot harm a soul that is safe in Christ.
ML-01/10/1960