Snake under the refrigerator

I was talking with a lady today who told me she woke up yesterday morning to find a snake in the middle of her kitchen floor.  She said before she could do anything about it, she watched it slither under the refrigerator.  So after I freaked out about how creepy it would be to wake up in the morning to a snake on the kitchen floor, I asked her the obvious next question.  So how did you get rid of it? 

"Oh, it's still under the refrigerator.  I haven't called animal control yet."

Huh?

For the life of me, I can't think of a single thing that would keep me from finding and disposing of that snake immediately.   Be it calling animal control or whatever, you can believe that I would not be slipping into bed at night with a snake on the loose.

But we all have snakes on the loose in our hearts and in our lives, don't we?  Those nagging heart issues that don't go away.  Those default behaviors and attitudes that rear their ugly heads when we're least expecting it.  I can tell you that the snakes that are loose in my life didn't just show up today.  They've been roaming free in my heart for quite some time.  And yet night after night I go to bed knowing there's a snake under my refrigerator.  For whatever insane reason I find it easier to let the snake roam free, then to take the time, energy and courage it takes to find and kill the snake once and for all.  All along hoping that tonight isn't the night it decides to bite.
 
And it will bite.  That's what snakes do.  I would be a fool to believe otherwise.  Give it enough time, the right circumstance and that snake is gonna strike. 

Somehow, I've convinced myself that it's ok to live with a snake under my refrigerator.  The reality is, it is just as ludicrous to let a metaphoric snake roam in your heart and life as it is to let a physical snake reside under your kitchen's refrigerator.  We should be shocked, disgusted and freaked out by its very presence-just boldly laying on our kitchen floor.   Instead, we shrug our shoulders and yawn as we turn our backs and walk away, letting the snake hide under the refrigerator for yet another day.

Some of you might revel at the idea of killing a snake.  If you know me, you know I'd be doing my heebie jeebie dance and shrieking as I was trying to kill it.  What I love about God is that He is our animal control.  I don't have to kill the snake on my own.  The Bible makes many references to God fighting for us (Exodus 14:14).  Often it's just a matter of me taking the first step of calling "animal control" and saying I need help to kill this snake.

I don't pretend that it's this easy trivial thing to do.  "Oh, just ask God to get rid of all your problems and life will be perfect."  Far from it.  I realize that there will always be snakes that show up on my kitchen floor.  However, we should never get to the point where we become comfortable with and tolerate the snakes that are wreaking havoc in our lives.   Call animal control.  Get rid of that snake.  Then sleep peacefully tonight, awaking with new energy to fight the snake you may find tomorrow.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some snakes to kill.