The Snake's Head
The Snake's Head
It was a startling headline, but the article that followed told a startling story. The Associated Press dispatch was from San Antonio, Texas. The headline was "Snake's Head Bites Man." The news item was as follows:
"The severed head of a rattlesnake bit a man here. Olin Dillon, snake handler at a local reptile garden, severed the snake's head yesterday. When he attempted to remove the snake's head from the chopping block, the fangs struck one of his fingers. He was hospitalized. Jack Davenport, garden director, said the bite resulted from muscular reflex action and that Dillon received more venom than from the usual bite."
There are many important passages in the Bible which compare the workings of Satan to those of a snake, and he is particularly identified as "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan" (Rev. 12:9). Not the least interesting are those passages which refer to the crushing of Satan's head and his activities after that crushing. It is for this reason that the news item arouses interest.
In the Garden of Eden, the Lord addressed the following prophecy through the serpent to the devil, "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life; and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:14,15). We know that this was accomplished at Calvary, for we are told that the purpose for which Jesus Christ took a human body was "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14). It is correct for us to say that all of the work which Satan has been doing since the time of Christ's death may be likened to the lashings of the body of the serpent. The believer is safe while he is conscious of his position in Christ; it is only as he moves out of that condition, relying on his own strength, that
Satan can touch him. It is wonderful to know that "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20).
The time is to come - it is a time definitely fixed in the plan of God (Hab. 2:3; Heb. 10:37) - when Satan shall be cast out of Heaven into the earth (Rev. 12:9) where he shall agitate briefly before he is dealt with eternally. Just as the Texas snake gave more venom in the bite after his head was severed, so the Scripture tells us that Satan's last activities shall be his most furious. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" (Rev. 12:12).
But the Lord, who has provided protection from all of the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16), has planned the ultimate and eternal removal of this defeated foe and the day will come when the universe shall know his work no more.
1. If we abide in Christ can we avoid the temptation and venom of Satan? If so, how?
2. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How does your definition affect the way we are protected by Christ?
3. Satan is cunning and has a lot of ways to trick us, how aware are you daily of Satan’s activities?
