How likely would you have been to sit still and quiet while this snake slithered under your hammock? Believe me, I hardly dared to breathe until he was out of sight…. But I did manage to snap a couple pictures.

Some of my friends think I’m insane because every time I sight a snake—be it under my hammock or under my feet at the office desk—my first response is to take photos. Why? Because after we dispose of it, I want to identify it, of course. And I’m sure not going to rely on my memory. Many snakes have crossed my path in the last decade or two, and most are nonpoisonous. We only kill the poisonous ones, and that to protect our children. I have a healthy respect for snakes, and I’ve never personally touched one. I’m not deathly afraid of them. In fact, I am more afraid of dogs than of snakes. But it is highly unlikely that I will ever take up snake handling as a hobby.

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While most of us would not go about picking up snakes (I do know a few weirdos.), far too many of us handle something much more deadly than the deadliest snake—sin. We play with it, build up an immunity to it, and wear it like a piece of jewelry. But it is highly unlikely that we will long escape the consequences of playing with sin.

Two historical events are mentioned in the book of Luke in which people were going about their daily lives when suddenly their lives were taken from them. They did not think it likely that they would die that day, but they did.

Luke 13:1-5  There were present at that time some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose you that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.”

As Jesus told them, so He tells us: Unless you repent, you will also perish.” There is only one way to escape the penalty of sin, and that is by accepting the atoning work of Jesus Christ. He died to save us from our sins. How unlikely is that! That a man would lay down His life for His enemies. That’s right, not His friends, but His enemies.

James 4:4  You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Ephesians 2:14-16  For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; to make in Himself of two one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

Please accept God’s gift of grace today. It is certain that this is the only way to heaven.