Henry S. served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II with the U.S. Navy. He was part of the crew unloading the USS Mt. Hood, an ammunition ship, when it was struck by a kamikaze plane. In the explosion that followed, Henry sustained severe injuries to his back and legs which ultimately resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee.
After 18 months in hospitals and rehabilitation, Henry returned home to try to rebuild his life. His disability hindered him from doing some things but it didn’t stop him from one of his favorite hobbies – fishing!
While fishing one day Henry stopped his boat near a log to get out. How was he to know that there was a large rattlesnake on the other side of the log, coiled and ready to strike? As Henry stepped over the log, the rattlesnake viciously attacked. Its fangs pierced through the pants and into the leg. How was the snake to know that it was an artificial leg, and that its venom would have no effect? The yellow poison stained Henry’s pants leg. The snake had broken a tooth on the wooden leg. As Henry pulled his leg back into the boat, the snake slithered off. Possibly for the first time since he was injured, Henry was grateful that he had an artificial leg that substituted for his real one.
There is another snake slithering around, ready to strike unexpectedly. He is the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan (Rev. 12:9). He is vicious and shows no mercy. His desire is to kill, to steal, and to destroy (Jn. 10:10). He deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9). He is ready to strike you if you come into his territory.
We are living in this world. How can we avoid being struck? We can’t. But we don’t have to experience the devastating effects of the serpent’s bite. Henry’s tragic wound forced him to have an artificial leg that substituted for the real one. That tragedy turned into triumph for him when he was bitten. The snakebite had no effect on Henry’s body, in spite of the fact that venom was released. We too have a Substitute that has taken the serpent’s bite on our behalf. He received the full force of Satan’s venom and died on the cross. That tragedy has turned into triumph because now we can have eternal life by accepting Jesus as the Substitute for our sins.
Is Jesus your Substitute? That old serpent Satan has struck you and his venom has brought sin into your life. Your sins will bring eternal death to you unless you have a Substitute that removes them from you. Invite Jesus Christ to come into your life today and forgive you of your sins. Don’t let the serpent’s venom kill you.