Black Snakes and the Entanglement of Sin
This black snaked did not know the truth of his dire entanglement, when I discovered him in the bird netting surrounding my garden. It may be hard to see in this picture but he was so wrapped up that it was cutting off his circulation. I don't know how long he had been there before I came back to do something in my garden.
Several truths come to mind.
The more he tried on his own the more entangled he became.
None of his friends could help him, they didn’t know how to either.
He couldn’t get out on his own.
He was dying in his entanglement, it was serious.
In summary, he could not save himself, but he did need to be saved or he would die.
This is a very clear picture of the human predicament of sin.
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Only someone not like him could save him.
Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Someone who could see the extent of his entanglement. Someone who would have compassion on him.
Romans 6:22-23 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Someone who had the means to save him and the will or desire to save him.
John 1:29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
It would not be easy, it would not be without work. I had to one by one cut away every strand of netting to finally free him.
But would he find himself entangled again?
2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
What have you tried, to free yourself from your sins? Who have you gone to for help?
There is only one Savior and He alone can remove the deadly entanglement of your sin.
John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
