I see some headlines and just shake my head. It happened just this past week. Here is the title: “Man Tries To Kiss Cobra, Gets Bitten In Face Now Battling For Life.”* Robyn White shares the story: “A video posted to Twitter by AH Siddiqui shows the man from Karnataka state attempting to kiss the common cobra. As the man holds the snake to his lips, the reptile lunges forward and bites him on the mouth. The man then drops the snake.” White goes on to report the response of a clearer-thinking individual: "Sadly this kind of idiotic behavior is common here. There are literally thousands of snake 'rescuers' in India, some very serious and performing a valuable service, removing snakes from houses and gardens and releasing them elsewhere away from people," Romulus Whitaker, India-based herpetologist of the Madras Crocodile Bank, which works to educate villagers on snakebites, told Newsweek. But others, like this dude, are publicity hungry and do something crazy like free-handling the snake, putting it around their neck, or kissing it. We know of at least 25 of them fatally bitten over the last few years. Snakes are scared to death of humans and only bite in self-defense."
Idiotic behavior indeed! While I do sincerely hope the man recovers from his injuries, I have to wonder why humans take these kinds of chances. Isn’t the world dangerous enough without inviting disaster? And yet, we keep taking chances. It happens in our spiritual lives as well. For example, we “kiss the snake” when we dabble with addictive substances. We “kiss the snake” when we flirt with someone other than our spouse. We “kiss the snake” when we play fast and loose with the truth.
Jesus refused to kiss the snake. When Satan offered Him the world if He would only bow down and worship him, Jesus adamantly refused. He said, “Go Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10). Don’t be foolish! Don’t kiss the snake!
God loves you!
Mike
*newsweek.com; 10-5-22
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