Curiosity Killed The Snake

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:13, 14 NKJV

At my hunting lodge in South Carolina, we guide hunters to deer, turkey and wild boar. It is not uncommon to see venomous snakes like rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. They don’t scare me as long as I can see them before they see me. However, I do wear snake-proof boots as a precaution. Late one evening in early September, I drove into our swamp tract to pick up some boar hunters. As I drove past the gate to the property, I noticed a
rattlesnake, 4 to 5 feet in length, stretched across the road. It was as big around as my arm. Now I happen to like snakes, but I wasn’t going to try some of that
“Croc Hunter” stuff like Steve Irwin! Animal rights activists, don’t be alarmed. I didn’t kill the snake. Keep reading.

As I drove over to the big rattler, he didn’t move a bit. I stopped the truck with the left front tire barely sitting on the snake. With the snake rattling aggressively, I cautiously looked out the window to find him biting the fire out of a perfectly good
Michelin. Boy, was he mad! He was squirting venom all over that tire!

Now don’t worry, the snake was fine. He slithered off into the brush just a little aggravated. I immediately exited the vehicle to use what I learned watching
that “CSI” TV show. It was time to investigate the scene of the “bite and run” accident! Upon close investigation, here’s what I found: multiple puncture wounds to the tire exterior, large amounts of venom dripping from the tire, and one broken-off fang from the culprit. Case closed! If I’m lying…I’m dying! That
snake broke one fang right off in the tire and I pulled it out. It has become a standing joke at the lodge to warn hunters of our “snaggletooth rattlesnake.”
You know the ‘ol saying, “Curiosity killed the cat?” Well, it almost killed a snake that day. The story does show us how dangerous it can be to threaten a creature in its natural habitat. If we get too close, we are liable to get bit. Our temptations in life can lead to the same result. When we are tempted and fall
into sin, it rears its ugly head and angrily bites us. Don’t let curiosity or temptation bring you down. Be strong in the Lord, keep the faith—and keep your
distance.

Excerpted from Around the Campfire: Devotionals for the Sportsman, by Thomas Naumann . For more information, visit J. Countryman publishers at www.jcountryman.com.