Fool's Gold

John 6:32 -- "Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven' ".

The sun beat down and the yellow flies were biting, driving us crazy, but I loved the treks into the Tilly Fowler park across from NAS - JAX. The lush green, the fallen pine needles, the huge Cypress trees and abundant flora and fauna are WONDERFUL for a shutterbug such as myself.  On this hot day, however, after looking around for some great photo ops, it quickly became apparent that something wasn't quite right. It didn't take too long to discover that something. I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stave off the stink that came from the dead banded water snake at the bank of a small pond. He'd been badly mutilated and it made me sad. I could guess what happened.

Florida Banded Water Snake

Working on the spill way two crew men were clearing the grate from storm debris and saw the snake swim across the surface. As it so often happens down here, they probably mistook it for a water moccasin [commonly called a cotton mouth] and brought about it's death. They do look very similar -- but the truth is, if you pay attention, you can tell the two snakes apart. [Our family learned this from National Geographic's Maynard Cox who lived a short distance from our house and was gracious enough to give us audience during a homeschool coop meet].

Cotton Mouth

Now actually, even though I understand the fear of the venomous and non-venomous creatures, I don't think that even a cotton mouth deserves an untimely death unless absolutely necessary, they help our Eco-system in so many ways ... and I know what you're thinking..... and it's true that most people don't feel the same way about reptiles - it was after all, just a snake. But bare with me here -- this encounter gave me pause and made me think of something.

One of these animals is truly dangerous and -- having an aggressive/aggravated nature -- can really cause harm to a person. The other one, rarely bites even when chased by curious children at the side of a creek. [I learned THIS at the public park in Green Cove Springs].

What could have happened if the curious kids in Green Cove had tried to capture a water moccasin instead of a banded water snake? Well, it doesn't take a very vivid imagination to guess that there could be some serious trouble there. In that particular situation, it really pays to know the difference between true harm and excited investigation. Which brings me to my point.

Focus.

and Truth.

Yesterday, as my son's fiance' and her mother were sitting with me in our office creating jewelry, a story was shared with me about a family acquaintance who appeared to be a banded water snake. In other words: she knew the Bible verses, she could recite wonderful wisdom and share sermon truths in encouragement and guidance. At first glance, she was the harmless water snake taking a dip in  a fresh water spring - encouraging others to enjoy the cool waters with her.

But something happened. A married woman with children, she hooked up with an old flame via FaceBook. No one can really say how long the on-line affair went on before she eventually took her two children and moved in with the former flame -- leaving her husband in the dust. And this is where I have to choose my words carefully -- because it's one thing to be a Christian and make a legitimate mistake or bad choice, repent and ask forgiveness and turn around, moving into the light and away from the darkness -- it's quite another to invite others into sin and deem that it's o.k. To use scripture to excuse sin and continue to live in it - creating a poor example for young ones and old ones alike who might still be growing in faith and conviction.

The family friend actually talked her husband, fellow adulterer and two girls into believing that what she had done was o.k. because in God's eyes - she and this other fellow were married in their hearts. The husband walked away and let the woman walk out of his life with his two daughters. The daughters were taught that what Mom did is perfectly fine. That God even says it's perfectly fine.

See my point now?

Many, many, MANY times in Christian history WE set our sights on the cotton mouth. After all, it LOOKS like harmless banded water snake. We focus on the wrapping paper and bows, special sales and favorite baking moments at Christmas instead of it's true celebration. We excuse our own behaviors and write them off as acceptable. We give biblical figures power and special abilities [like the virgin Mary or in the above verse, Moses] when even the Bible doesn't - blinding ourselves and others around us to the true power, the TRUE bread from heaven. We indulge habits that do far LESS than glorify God and seek loop holes in scripture to accommodate them, allowing us to continue our behavior.

What happens when we catch the creature and find out it's not the harmless water snake we thought it was? Or worse? What happens if we catch it, hold on to it, and never realize it's not the harmless water snake we thought it was? What if we invite other people to check out the nifty looking animal that we've captured?

Somebody IS going to receive a nasty bite. It might not be you, it might not be right now. But somewhere down the line, the venom is going to rear it's ugly head and reality just might be deadly.

The TRUE bread. That's where we need to put our focus.  We should guard it with everything we have -- using the FULL armor of God. We ALL sin -- we ALL sometimes get our reptiles confused...but we don't have to STAY confused. And we certainly SHOULDN'T encourage others to indulge in our confusion.

A verse I have to cling to every day is Psalm 19:13. "Keep your servant also from willful sins." Pray, Father -- guard me from spiritual look-a-likes, fakes, and deadly misidentification.

We/ I have to learn the difference between true bread, the TRUTH that God has given us through Jesus Christ -- and the things that will harm us and others. Don't be blinded by the glitter and shine of fool's gold - cling to the brilliant nuggets of truer stuff.

A little note: You can tell the difference between the banded water snake and the cotton mouth by their pupils. Water moccasins will have slits for pupils. Banded water snakes will have round pupils. I don't recommend always getting that close to check them it out, though.