Tokyo, Japan is a very large city. Wikipedia states that there are 14 million residents in the city limits, and the Greater Tokyo Area is inhabited by 40.8 million, making it “the most-populous metropolitan area in the world”. Those numbers boggle my mind!
Transportation is naturally an important part of city life in Tokyo. Recently 2,700 passengers on one train were subjected to a 15-minute delay when someone reported seeing a snake on one of the cars. All passengers were asked to disembark while a search was made. Upon finding nothing, the train was boarded again with the exception of the car in which the snake had been spotted.
At the end of the day a more thorough search was made of the car, and an 8-inch non-venomous Japanese rat snake was found hiding under a seat. The snake would be returned to the wild, authorities reported. Imagine that: 2,700 schedules disrupted by a harmless small snake!
The snake we read about in Genesis 3 was anything but harmless. Furthermore, it was a serpent that could speak. His words in Genesis 3:1 – “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” – caused Eve to question God’s motives. The serpent then claimed God was hiding something wonderful from the woman: “God knows that in the day you eat of [the forbidden tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Who wouldn’t want to be like God? Eve wanted that, and she proceeded to eat the fruit (Genesis 3:6).
The most damaging words the serpent spoke were these: “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). God had told Adam that eating of the forbidden fruit would bring death. The serpent deceived the woman into believing a lie, and the rest is history. A Pandora’s box of misery, suffering, death, and sin were opened that day, all because of a snake.
What – or who – was that snake in the Garden of Eden? Revelation 12:9 removes any doubt about his identity as it tells the aftermath of a war that took place in heaven: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” Satan is much more than a serpent; somehow, he took on that appearance to sneak up on Eve. But John tells us that Satan’s work was not finished at Eden; he continues to deceive the whole world.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul brought the reality of this snake closer home: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 1 Peter 5:8 sounds the same warning for us to be on guard: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Jesus came to bring abundant life to all (John 10:10). Sadly, however, life will become endless misery for millions, all because of a snake. James 4:7 gives us the hope we need: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall
