Be the Light

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Today we have an analogy that use scorpions…ekk! Many, many years ago, when my kids were small, I owned some land out in the country. It was in an area of rolling hills and rather wild and undeveloped. One weekend while working to clear the land, one of the kids rolled a rock over and the biggest scorpion I had ever seen popped out in a defensive stance ready to strike. It was a mother scorpion and her back was covered with babies, a lot of them! It was startling. It made an impression on me because I still can see it in my head over 25 years later.

There’s a story told of a man who was meditating by a brook in the countryside when suddenly he noticed a scorpion caught in the swirling current struggling desperately trying to climb onto a rock. The old man felt for the creature and earnestly tried to help it, but every time he reached down, the scorpion would strike. Meanwhile, a passerby happened upon this struggle. “Sir”, he said, “don’t you realize that it is the nature of a scorpion to attack and sting?” “Of course” replied the man, “but it is my nature to save and rescue. Why should I change my nature just because the scorpion doesn’t change his?”

This man didn’t let the attacking, stinging scorpion change his kind and gentle nature. So should we never allow our environment to influence our behavior, no matter where we are.

God has not called us to follow the ways of this world. He’s called us to lead with His gentleness and love! If we are going to world changers, we have to step up and be the example, be the light God has called us to be.

Scorpions live where it’s dark, such as in crevices and under rocks. When they are suddenly exposed to the light, they become disoriented. We need to be cautious when in their environment but not fear them for when we come upon a scorpion that way, they are easy to kill. It is at night that we really have to be careful for they’re out and about. They can see us coming from afar and strike before we even know it.

When we’re walking in God’s light, we need not fear temptations and distractions that come up from the darkness to paralyze us with their poisonous venom. They too can be exposed, brought to the light, caught off guard, and tread upon once and for all!

We have victory over the enemy! Let’s cower in his presence no more! Let’s step on the spiritual scorpions that have kept us bound up for so long.