I don’t like snakes. They simply creep me out. Maybe you can relate. They seem to fall into that category of things that instinctively conjure up feelings of fear, revulsion, or evil.
If you were to ask me, there are plenty of good reasons. Their beady little eyes, their quiet, stealthy movement, their slippery smooth skin (ok, scales). Let’s face it. Snakes are sneaky, slither sideways, and almost always appear ready to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. But if creepy and dangerous are all that it takes to be evil, why not sharks, spiders or even skunks for that matter?
Looking Back …
I believe the answer goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. After Satan rebelled against God, he set his sights on Adam and Eve. His disguise? A serpent. Thousands of years later, many of us still associate snakes with evil.
However, as I was reading the book of James, I suddenly saw snakes in a whole new light. And the image that came to mind was uglier than the first. In chapter 3, James is urging Christians to recognize the importance of controlling what comes out of our mouths. He describes the human tongue this way:
“restless and evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8 )
But it gets even worse.
“Sometimes [the tongue] praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” (James 3:9)
Have you ever done that? I know I have.
“And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.” (James 3:10)
As I read that verse, an image of a snake’s dual-pronged tongue flashed through my mind. The NLT Bible Study Notes describes improper speech this way: “gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying.” And goodness knows how many times we speak without even recognizing our hidden, less than admirable, motives.
One Simple Question
It’s so easy to picture evil as being heinous, sharp fanged, and full of lethal poison. Yet when Satan, still furious at God, approached Adam and Eve in the Garden, neither was afraid. Nevertheless, God allowed this little encounter to set in motion both the most disastrous and glorious chain of events in human history.
How did Satan strike? Weapons? Sorcery? Violence? Pitch forks? Hissing? No. All Satan needed was one small, but greatly underestimated, tool—a tongue. With it, Satan was able to tempt his unsuspecting victims with one simple question.
“Did God really say…” (Genesis 3:1)
As Christians, you and I will take great efforts to guard ourselves from more obvious forms of evil. Murder. Adultery. Stealing. Yet we sometimes fail to recognize that what comes out of our own mouths is just as capable of inflicting pain, injury … and yes, even death.
“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say…for from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.” (Matthew 12:34, 15:18)
How do we protect ourselves from “gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying”? The Bible says that above all else,
“Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
And how do we guard our heart?
By being ever mindful of what God really did say, and prepared to wield the power of His Word against Satan and his schemes,
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
You and I are blessed to have access to God’s holy Word. It alone has the power to crush the enemy’s schemes. Let us use it wisely.
Dive into the fascinating story of one man’s evil enslavement and his miraculous rescue through my Bible study, LEGION: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me.
I love the image of snakes having a two-pronged slithery tongue. . .what a perfect way to remember that when we are giving a blessing to God but a cursing to men, that we are using a two-pronged tongue like a snake! Don’t I pray for a purified heart, so abundantly that it just pours over and every ounce would glorify God!
I am so glad the article bless you, Erin – and surely our gracious Lord will answer your prayer! 😀
I have been resentful . A co-worker said the wrong thing. It is so neasy to gossip, minipulate things to prove my point and not take any resposibility for the incident. I pray for Gods’ help.
God will answer! He knows we are weak and easily fail, but praise God, He is merciful and forgiving! 🙂
I loved this post. A great reminder of the importance of controlling what comes out of our mouths, and that whatever is in our heart, determines what we say.
I’m so glad you liked the article, Angie! Thank you for your encouragement:)
Thank you
Evil is not a person or a thing. Evil is the absence of good. When ever a person fail to obey the word of god he or she gives birth to evil. Evil is the result of our disobedience. The idea of Satan bring flung fro. Heaven by god is not true….the only creation that was flung from heaven ( garden of Eden ) is mankind.
Man has a free will called the power if choice.if he chooses to obey that is good…when he disobeys that is evil.
Thank you for sharing your comments, Bryan. I agree. In fact, I touch on this topic further in my new Bible study, LEGION: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me. You may enjoy it! Blessings!