THE SERPENT, THAT OLD DEVIL, SATAN

Some will probably say that the story I am about to relate is made-up, but I have three witnesses to verify the details.  Last week while playing golf, I hit my tee shot to the left over a hill that turned to the left, making it difficult to see where the ball landed.  When we went toward the area we thought the ball had landed, we did not immediately find it.  It was quite puzzling since we were looking on the fairway where there were no obstacles. 

Sherrill remarked that there was a four-foot long Blacksnake about fifteen yards from us. The snake now had my attention, but I continued to look for the ball while keeping the snake in my peripheral vision.  Another golfer remarked that it looked like the snake had just eaten something.  Upon closer examination, the four of us determined that the snake had swallowed my ball.

As a preacher, I have the homiletic habit.  That is, I tend to look for a sermon or lesson in everything.  Peter says that the Devil "walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)  Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 also characterizes him as "the Serpent, Satan."  Peter warns us to be "sober, vigilant."  Like my golf ball, we can't lose sight of any of our spiritual possessions [love for the lost, compassion, zeal, enthusiasm, etc.] for we know that the Serpent will take them away.  Just like that Blacksnake, Satan thinks he will have gained great victories at the present, but he won't like how it comes out in the End.

Paul