Don't Tempt the Snake

The other day, I took a hike. I went on it with the intent to ponder. To get out into nature and listen. It was a very enlightening hike. But one instance in particular reminded me of a Sunday School lesson from when I was a teenager. And I think I maybe now am just understanding it more fully.

Backstory time! (insert Dr Doofensmirtz picture here)

So once upon a Sunday, many years ago, we were learning about the creation. About the Garden of Eden. Because we were a pretty unruly class ( we tried, but really looking back.....) at one point the teacher decided to ask a class member who was not listening a question. "What were the two commandments that God gave Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?" The answer is worthy of the history books. 

"Don't eat the apple and don't tempt the snake." 

I really think that is the only thing I remember from that year. It was a running joke. I still smile at it now and remember the laughter that it could always evoke whenever it was brought up in our group. Flash forward to my hike. On my return I passed a point on the trail where I heard a very clear, very LOUD hiss. I hollered "Oh CRAP! A SNAAAAAAAAAKE!!!!!" And started running like a deranged mountain goat for about the next 100 yards. (this all seems very rambled as I am reading it, but I promise, it makes a good point)

And the saying "Don't tempt the snake" came to mind. And a lesson was learned. Satan has been compared to a snake or a serpent in the scriptures. We always talk about the ways he uses to tempt us, to lead us away from God. But there are ways we can tempt him, allowing ways to let him in. (really, I know it is him doing the tempting, but bear with me) By our choices, we make room for either the Savior or the Devil. If I choose not to read my scriptures in the morning, justifying that I pretty much know what is in them and I don't need them desperately enough or have time, I am "tempting the snake". I am saying "here is a little space that I am leaving open" and he is oh so willing to fill it. On that hike I was alone. Granted, the trail was filled with countless other people. In life, when we choose to be alone, when we choose to close ourselves off and try to "fix" ourselves, without accepting help of others or from God, we are leaving a void to be filled. If I rationalize not praying for a day, brush off a prompting of the Holy Ghost, look for a reason to leave church early, refuse service, and the list could go on and on, but in all these things I am "tempting the snake". I am allowing room for him to fill.

It has been on my mind since then. In what ways am I personally tempting the snake? In what ways do I push God away? Where do I rationalize? Where do I justify? And then the healing portion. How can I invite God more fully into my life? What in my life do I need to accept and acknowledge and turn over to Him, instead of carrying around with me? The story told of the two wolves inside, the wolf that wins is the one you feed. How am I feeding the bad wolf, how can I stop and in what ways can I feed the good wolf?

A slightly deeper thought to a very much laughed at teenage moment, How do you tempt the snake and how can you more fully rely on the Lord to fill all empty voids so that there is no room for which the snake to enter?