It had been a beautiful day. The sun was shining with a temperature of around eighty degrees and a light breeze. Yet, I had been inside working all day instead of outside taking it in. When I realized my husband was going to be later than normal, I decided to get outside and go for a walk. I journeyed at a brisk pace to the end of the road and then turned to make my way back toward the house. On my return trek up the road, my phone dinged with a text message. So, as I walked, I typed my response. And since I was on the roadway in the bright sunlight, I didn’t think too much about the fact that my entire focus was on the screen in my hand and not on my surroundings or where I was going. Apparently, for me, texting while walking could be dangerous because when I finished my text and hit send, I caught sight of two beady eyes right beside the foot that I had just placed on the ground. My heart leaped from my chest, and as if I had just stepped on hot coals and without an ounce of thought about not alarming the creature, my body flailed through the air chasing after my heart. When I was at a safe distance, I looked back, and the enormous black snake had not moved. I don’t know. I’ve heard people say that they are just as afraid of us as we are of them. Somehow, I doubt that. But once I had recovered from my scare, I took a few pics, keeping my safe distance, of course. I decided it stood to reason that if it had any intention of biting me, it had ample opportunity. So, the snake and I parted ways, and I immediately went back to the house, took out the pungent garlic-reeking snake-repellent packs that I had purchased a few days before, and put them out all around the house.
Ironically, the morning of the day this little encounter took place, my Bible reading included Genesis, Chapter Three. So, as I was spreading my snake-repellent pouches, I couldn’t help but marvel at the truth in words in Genesis 3:15 where God said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman…” (KJV). I know we all have different fears and phobias, but for me, I do not react to any other animal as I do a snake. Spiders, bees, lizards… nothing else comes to my mind that sends me flailing through the air and dashing into the house in sheer terror except for a snake.
Of course, the enmity between the woman and the snake is not the only result of disobedience detailed in Genesis, Chapter Three. As Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and eat of the fruit, sin entered the world. The consequences would affect future generations as women would have the pain of childbirth (See Genesis 3:16 KJV), and men would work for food with ground that would now yield weeds (See Genesis 3:17-19 KJV). So, this makes it obvious that the impact of Adam and Eve’s choice extended further than just to them. I say this because sometimes we deceive ourselves or let the enemy deceive us into believing that our actions don’t hurt anyone else. Yet, this very first decision to sin, not only affected generations to come but also had an immediate consequence on another living thing. In Genesis 3:21, we are told, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (KJV). That coat of skins must mean that an immediate sacrifice was made because of their sin.
When we intentionally choose to disobey God, whether it be the lack of witness that could have drawn someone closer to God or whether it be the person was pulled further from God by our choice, or maybe it is worry caused to a family member or loved one who cares for us,… whatever the case… sin will have an impact that extends beyond self.
May we learn from the scripture, and with every choice we make, let us choose to let our light shine for Jesus.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV
