In my garden yesterday I saw the most beautiful snake I've ever seen, only to discover that it was the very venomous coral snake, which is a member of the cobra family. I watched it slither back into the leaves in the nearby woods.
Florida is known for its poisonous snakes and other reptiles. In fact, at a nearby rest area off of Interstate 75 this sign is posted: "Watch Out for Venomous Snakes." A good warning, indeed.
It's interesting to me that the coral snake is so beautiful and attractive. I think a child might even want to pick it up. That's why a cautionary rhyme has been written for kids (and adults): "Red touch yellow, kills a fellow. Red touch black, friend of Jack."
My experience with the lovely coral snake (with its red touching yellow) caused me to think about how deception works. We can be easily fooled by it and must be careful and observant at all times.
The Bible says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13). This prophecy is being fulfilled today through a gradual desensitization process that is leading many people, even the elect, astray.
Paul wrote, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15). Yes, it is important for us to walk in love and speak the truth at all times and to avoid false teaching no matter how attractive it may seem to be.
In reference to wine, the Bible warns, "At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" (Proverbs 23:32). In effect, this is saying that wine may look good and taste good, but its attractive qualities hold great potential to deceive us.
One of the main ways we are able to avoid deception is by studying God's Word, to be like the Bereans, who "... were more noble than than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).
The coral snake, while colorful and outstandingly beautiful, is a poisonous snake, and so are the wicked, those who speak lies: "Their poison is like the poison of a serpent" (Psalm 58:4). We must be very careful, indeed.
