The Snake is Still Dangerous

I want to know things. If the clock stops working, I want to take it apart and figure out why. If something on the computer is not operating like it should, I want to know why? Maybe it comes from by innate desire to fix things around me or maybe I just can’t stand to not know. Have you ever been confused? Been trying to figure out something with no avail? Gotten to a point of frustration and just wanted to give up?

I feel that way about the Christian life fairly often. I’m confused about how I can be a redeemed, reborn, new creation of God and yet still struggle so much with sin. Paul puts it this way in Romans Chapter 7. "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

It is a thought process that frustrated Paul and has continued to bewilder believers over the centuries. So how do we harmonize this struggle? Can we as believers ever find a way to "overcome” (shout out to our next series) this issue? Here are two thoughts that we can find hope in:

1. Satan has been defeated. He no longer has any power or authority over our lives because of the power that Jesus exercised on the cross. When Jesus spoke the words “IT IS FINISHED” he meant it. It’s over! There is no going back to a time where Satan has dominion over the Earth. He was defeated! That gives us as believers hope. That regardless of how difficult the hardship may seem we can find hope in the middle of the storm because Jesus has won victory over Satan. The Snake is dead.
2. Satan is still dangerous. This is a hard concept to process. But just like the snake head that has been chopped off of the body is only dangerous to us if we are not aware of the danger, Satan is only dangerous if we are not aware of his danger. He can still hurt us. Not because he has power over us, but because we can still trip up over the remnant of his power. That is why the Lord gave us the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the community of believers. Each of these serve as a light to guide our path to avoid the pitfalls, dangers, and snake heads along the way. We can navigate life safely if we are aware of this fact. The Snake is still dangerous.

Where do you need to lean into Scripture this week? How do you need to hear from the Holy Spirit? What friends do you need to allow access to your life to encourage you down this journey? The journey may be hard, but hope is found when we come to understand that our Snake is dead but our Snake is still dangerous.

Michael Christian