By: Donna Martin
We live next to an amazing Arbor. It is filled with walkways, bike trails and foot trails, beautiful flowers, a meandering creek, and so many trees. It is a wonderful place to escape any time of the day. Actually it was the reason that we chose to live in our apartment complex which is next to the arbor. Our grandchildren love to go there when they come to visit. The older boys are always excited about exploring new trails and the little girls love the playground and the interesting discoveries we make along the walkways.
While spending the afternoon with us in the arbor one of our granddaughters was intrigued by every little ant and bug that she passed on the trail. As she stooped down to get a closer look at an ant as it scurried across the concrete, Mike commented, “Do you like bugs?”
“No, Poppy, I don’t like these bugs, but I do like ‘wadybugs’.”
Every encounter with the wildlife has not been so pleasant, however, like the time we saw a huge, black, hairy tarantula! And last week when I was walk/jogging along the concrete path my eye caught a long snake slithering across it in front of me. I squealed, jumped and ran, as he raised his head to look at me. This experience caused me to begin pondering about snakes. Although some people actually like snakes according to an article I read recently, snakes are one of the most common phobias.
What is it about snakes that we do not like? Is it their sinister eyes, their scaly cold bodies, the way they slither? Or is it the fear of what they might do to us? One bite from a poisonous snake if not treated quickly could send us to eternity a little earlier than expected.
I think it is interesting that Eve was persuaded by a snake (serpent) to disobey God. I wonder, in those early days of creation, before man sinned if the snake was a beautiful creature. After all, God was pleased with everything He created. Perhaps the creature was not so frightening. Some suppose that it most likely walked on legs before it was cursed by God to “crawl on its belly and eat dust all the days of his life” (Genesis 3:14). There must have been something very intriguing about it since Eve was drawn to it instead of terrified of it.
Since the fall of man isn’t that the way sin has been? Sin looks pretty, inviting, interesting, better than what we have. If we are not careful we are drawn to it. Sin destroys marriages; it destroys families; it destroys churches, it destroys nations.
God gives us a promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)
How horrible it would be to find yourself trapped in a room with a snake. I don’t think I would be trying to talk to it or pet it! I would be looking for a way of escape. What great news – God provides a way out when we are tempted!! So the next time you think the grass looks greener on the other side, or just one little lie won’t hurt, or whatever the sin is that looks so beautiful and inviting – don’t walk toward it, don’t try to pet it! Look for the way out and RUN!!!!! You will be glad you did.
The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations. To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.” They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues. You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriage.com.