A Snake in the Grass

I remember years a ago playing in the yard . It was play as usual until my sister spotted what she thought was a stick or something. So when she approached it , it moved. Now I confess, living in Nova Scotia ,Canada , it was not a rattlesnake or cobra . Something extremely dangerous lurking , waiting to strike .That would sound so much cooler.No it was just a harmless garden snake. But for a 7 and 4 year old, it seemed like a giant boa. I don't have a fear of snakes like Indy Jones (good thing) but I'm not big fan either.Needless to say it pretty much ruined the rest of the day.Who knows how long we played with it right there. It blended in with its environment.

There is a another snake in the grass that hides but this one is not  harmless. That is indwelling sin. Even after we are saved , renewed and made alive with Christ , indwelling sin and the battle with it is a reality. Just like that day playing without any fears , one can be feeling confident about past sinful urges , and become complacent . You start thinking , I'm living victorious . But when that happens , we fail to grasp the insidious nature of the sin still alive within . 

[23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

(Romans 7:23 ESV)

One of first things as a Christian we become painfully aware of ,as we grow in our faith , is sin in our lives. Sin is something ,prior to conversion ,we gave no real thought of. However as we mature in the faith , often we see how utterly sinful we were and still are in many aspects. The times I have been the weakest in my walk, are not the times I have been acutely aware of my sinfulness but when I felt confident. Thinking I was above that. Dealing with sin is something we need to do , not tuck it away .

Not to take it serious or downplay even its existence is a fools quest. But at the same time , we need not be morbid about either.Living in fear and condemnation.


[8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8-9 ESV)

As John points out , we need to make a practice of confession . Trusting that our Lord will not only forgive but cleanse us as well. We need to practice a daily walking in repentance , realizing we need to linger in the shadow of the cross before we run to the empty tomb. By this I mean , marveling at what Jesus did on the cross shows the ugliness of sin , it will help us to hate the sin still lingering within.Then running to the empty tomb to behold the risen Lord , knowing we are justified because He has put our sin to death on that cross and by His resurrection , we are new creations in Christ.

Having a proper view of indwelling sin , will help us avoid the snakes in the grass. We will never be sinless this side of heaven , for we are on a pilgrims progress. It is a battle . We need to know the enemy to defeat it , trusting in Christ knowing that the war is won but many scrimmages till that great victory day.