The Battle Against the Serpent: A Call to Arms
As Christians, we often struggle to answer the question, “So what?” What does it mean to live in light of the thrilling storyline of Jesus, the serpent slayer? How should we respond to the reality of the serpent’s presence in our world?
Imitating the Serpent
According to Jesus, we imitate the poisonous serpent when we murder, reject the truth, and lie (John 8:44). We see this played out in our world today. The devouring dragon is imitated when unborn babies are killed; the deceptive snake is imitated when people embrace the prosperity gospel; and the poisonous serpent is imitated when people slander others through gossip.
The Power of the Tongue
The tongue is a fire that can either bring blessing or cursing (James 3:6-10). When we use our tongues to curse others, we imitate the poisonous serpent. As Christians, we must be mindful of how we use our words and strive to bless others, rather than curse them.
Sin and the Serpent
Even as Christians, we can sin by imitating the serpent. We can deceive others and lead them to sin, or we can think we are better than God in some way. Peter sinned in these ways, but he was rebuked by Jesus and reminded to set his mind on the things of God (Matt. 16:23).
The Roaring Lion
Satan is not just a deceiving snake or devouring dragon; he is also a roaring lion, seeking to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8). He is not our friend and does not have our best interests at heart. We must be sober-minded and watchful, expecting him to attack and preparing ourselves to resist him.
The Battle for Our Minds
The serpent tempts us with lies, trying to convince us that we would be happier without God. He may tempt us to indulge in pornography or other sinful behaviors, promising fleeting pleasure but delivering destruction and despair. We must be aware of his tactics and resist him, firm in our faith.
Fighting the Serpent
We cannot defeat the serpent on our own, but God is greater than the serpent (1 John 4:4). We must put on the whole armor of God, including the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shield of faith (Eph. 6:10-18). We must also pray at all times, asking for God’s help and guidance in our battle against the serpent.
The Victory of the Serpent Slayer
Jesus has already decisively defeated the serpent, and at the end, he will finally and completely crush him. We must trust in Jesus’ plan, valor, power, and goodness, knowing that he always does what is right. We will jubilantly rejoice when Jesus finally conquers the serpent, and we will live forever in the victory of the serpent slayer.
Conclusion
The battle against the serpent is a call to arms, a reminder that we are in a spiritual war and must be prepared to fight. We must imitate God, not the serpent, and use our words and actions to bless others, not curse them. We must resist the serpent’s temptation and trust in Jesus’ victory, knowing that he is our mighty fortress and our only hope in the battle against the serpent.
Leave a Reply