My Memorial Day Surprise

A close encounter gave me a memorable Memorial Day—and some spiritual reminders as well.

I went down to the dock in the evening on Memorial Day as I often do before sunset. This time I decided I would take my rod and reel along, since I haven’t done any casting for quite a while.

The picture that got away

I also took my camera as usual. But this picture got away.

I was casting, not really expecting to catch anything. The wind was from the southeast, and I was casting into the wind. The line did not go out very far, and the strong waves brought it back to the reeds too fast.

Well, the last cast I made, as I was bringing the hook up out of the water, a big—and I mean big—water moccasin came up out of the water after it. The poisonous snake did not catch the red worm on my hook, and was I ever happy!

I do wish someone had been there taking a picture as the water moccasin sank back down into the water and swam under the dock.

I had not been afraid to be on that dock previously. However, this time I was a little concerned about the possibility of the snake coming up on the dock after my red worm. This snake came from the deeper water toward the dock following my red worm. Burned into my memory was the snake’s mouth wide open, ready to bite.

I gathered my equipment and left the dock. It will be a while before I go down and take my rod and reel again. I’m not anxious to catch a snake. I do not desire to take it off my hook!

This incident made my Memorial Day much more memorable. I am so thankful for God's protection!

Beware the spiritual serpent

Later as I contemplated this, I began to see a spiritual application in this encounter. This serpent was ready to devour. Satan is compared to vicious creatures like a serpent, a dragon and a lion (Revelation 12:9).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Just as it is important to be physically on the alert for danger that could cause our physical death, spiritually we must be alert for things that can cause our spiritual death.

In the book of Job, Satan is described as going to and fro on the earth (Job 1:7). What does Satan do when he is walking up and down in the world?

He is persistently looking for the weak and unprepared. Most of us do not expect to be taken unawares. We see the evil around us and feel we are strong and we can resist. But we can’t without God’s protection and His guidance.

Jesus Christ faced this

Jesus Christ was Himself tempted by Satan. “And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan” (Mark 1:13). Matthew records Christ’s final rebuke of Satan after the three temptations:

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve”’” (Matthew 4:10).

If Satan tempted Jesus, we can expect he will tempt us too—when we least expect it. I really was not expecting that snake to come up out of the water after my red worm. I was greatly surprised!

Not ignorant of his devices

The Bible teaches us how Satan works and what we need to watch out for. We must be alert “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

The parable of the sower shows how Satan deploys several of those devices against us. “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15). Satan is also the one behind all the cares of this world that cause us to be discouraged, disheartened and to forget the many blessings God gives us.

The snake coming up out of the water was as quick as lightning. In Florida on a bright summer day, there can be just a small dark cloud in the sky, and then, suddenly, there is rain and lightning. Satan is quick and sneaky like that too, so it is very important to always beware.

Satan can also disguise himself to deceive: “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Our response

James sums up what our response should be: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts” (James 4:7-8).

Mary Lee Johnston, known as Marilee, was baptized April 6, 1975. She attends the Ocala, Florida, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.