This story was sent to me from one of our members and I thought it was 
good for everyone to read. This is a good message that reminds me that if 
I do something which I know is wrong in the eyes of God then one day it 
will backfire and get me in trouble. The story symbolizes using drugs,
alcohol, or any thing that seems harmless but does much harm when abused.


THE YOUNG MAN AND THE SNAKE

A young man was out on his manhood quest one fall day trying to decide 
what task he would under take to prove his manhood; when he came upon a 
tall mountain, toped with the first snow of the year. This will be my 
test, thinks the young man to himself as he started to climb.

The climb was hard and long but the young man completed his task. Then as 
he rested on top of the mountain he heard a soft voice...help me it said. 
The young man looked for the voice, and there he found a rattlesnake dying 
in the snow. The snake pleaded with the young man to save him from the 
cold, but the young man said "no mister snake, for if I pick you up you'll 
bite me and I'll be the one that dies". No No said the snake I shall not 
harm the one that is to save me. If I do, surely I shall die in this 
cold. The young man gave this some thought and decided to help the snake,
so he picked up the snake put him in his shirt and started his long climb 
down the mountain. 

When they reached the valley below, the young man removed the snake from 
his shirt and placed it gently on the ground, then the snake struck and 
bit the man. Why did you bite me pleaded the man?

The snake just looked at him and said, "You knew what I was when you 
picked me up!" 


Temptation always comes from the enemy to test our faith and knowledge. 
The Bible says in James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist 
the devil, and he will flee from you." Never let the enemy tempt you in 
anyway because in the end it will result in death. The enemy will never 
let you see the end result of the path that he tries to get you on because 
if he did, you would never even consider sinning against the Lord.


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

James 1:13-17 "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; 
for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But 
each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it 
is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved 
brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes 
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow 
of turning."

1 John 5:4-5 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this
is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that 
overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"


In Christ Service, 

Dwayne Savaya 
Gods Work Ministry