Acts 28:3-6
Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand,they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”
But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
As Christians, we may face deadly things or situations that will cause men to wrongly judge us, and which will attract the curiosity of onlookers and enemies alike as they await our shame, disgrace and great fall.
We ought to stand upon the Word of God during such times to get us through. We have to depend on what God has said and not what science or the economy is saying. A man bitten by a poisonous viper and who is not treated instantly is destined to die. Paul was automatically considered a dead man walking when he encountered the poisonous viper.
I guess Paul remembered the words of Jesus at that juncture - Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
These words of Jesus stirred up faith in Paul. He casually shook the snake off, relying on the immutability of God's Word and promise. God's promises are yes and amen. They are final and reliable!
Shake off whatever you are going through that is not in line with God's Word. Shake off whatever experience you are facing which is contrary to God's promises. And like Paul, if you do so, you will face no ill-effects. Just believe!
WHAT IS NEXT?
