This cone snail is gorgeous. Aren’t the patterns eye-catching?
If you saw this on the beach, you may think it would look great as a
decorative item in your home. But if you pick it up, you’re as good as
dead!
What?!?
Inside the beauty of the cone snail is a venomous, stinging tongue that
stretches far enough to strike you no matter from what distance you
hold it. A few microliters of cone snail toxin is powerful enough to kill
10 people! And the worst part? The stinger is full of painkillers so you
won’t even realize you’ve been stung.
Those who have been killed by the cone snail never saw it coming.
The Geography cone snail is the deadliest. Its body is only six inches
but it has more than 100 toxins, and there’s no antivenin for it. IF you
can make to the hospital within 15 minutes, the best the medical staff
can do is keep you alive until the venom has passed through your
body—which is extremely painful. Though the sting itself was
painless, your death process will be excruciating.
Does this remind you of sin? It’s often eye-catching . . . maybe even
looks like something we’d want in our home . . . but once it takes hold of
our lives, spiritual death—separation from intimacy with Christ—can be
extremely painful.
And because satan is devious, we may have ignored the warnings of the
Holy Spirit and picked it up, chose it, welcomed it.
The Bible warns us against satan’s tactics:
“Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
(2 Corinthians 11:14 NLT)
Just like the cone snail, sin’s initial bite can be painless. Yet if we continue
allowing it in our lives, it gradually lulls us into a “Hey! What happened”
mentality. “I’m in trouble!”
I’m reminded of a little song I learned as a child:
“Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little eyes what you
see. For the Father up above is looking down in love,
Be careful little eyes what you see.”
Several years ago, the contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns used
the above song as part of a bigger song they sang called “Slow Fade.”
Isn’t that often how sin works? It’s a slow fade. Gradual. A drawn-
out dying.
Consider going to YouTube and searching for “Slow Fade” by Casting
Crowns and watch the insightful music video.
Let me know your thoughts.
And together let’s be careful little eyes, little ears, little hands.
______ ______ ______ ______
I have received a few emails from some of you letting me know you’re
praying for me and my speaking situation. Thank you SO MUCH!
Love,
Susie
