In Southwest Texas where
I was reared, they is a species of cactus known by the Mexicans as
"tasajilla." (I cannot vouch for the spelling.) It is made up of long
jointed stems having extremely long thorns with wicked points. In that
section there are also many rattlesnakes, enemies of man and beast, some
attaining a length of six or seven feet. This venomous reptile is,
however plagued by enemies. One of these is a long-legged bird known
popularly as a "Road-runner" and by the Mexicans as a "Paisano." It is
commonly seen running across and along the highways of Southwest Texas.
It has long black legs and beak and is mottled gray and black in color.
Many rattlesnakes are executed by this innocuous looking creature.
The execution takes place
in the following fashion: The bird will find the snake asleep; he will
carefully gather a supply of the little spine-like joints of the
"tasajilla" bush and with them build a fence or corral around the
sleeping snake; having finished the fence, the bird will then fly at the
snake and scream at in a high-pitched tone characteristic of the
"Road-runner;" the snake will awaken and try to crawl away, but the
spines of the "tasajilla" fence will prick his belly and he will draw
back; the "Road-runner" will continue to fly at the snake and draw back
quickly all the while uttering its shrill cry; the snake will strike and
miss and be rewarded for its effort by pricking its tender underside on
the "tasajilla;" finally, the snake will become so enraged and
frustrated that he will bite himself and be destroyed by his own venom.
As in much of nature,
there is a lesson for man in this circumstance. All of us, even
Christians, are two-fold beings-body and spirit, animal man and
spiritual man, carnal mind and spiritual mind. The animal nature of man,
prompted by lust and passion when not controlled, is filled with deadly
venom much as the rattlesnake. The Devil and his emissaries are well
aware of this fact, hence constantly seek to arouse in the Christian
this sleeping, deadly beast. Worldly men and false brethren are often
tools of Satan in his efforts to destroy God's children. Finding they
cannot seduce God's people otherwise, they will resort to persecution,
innuendo, defamation of character, and misrepresentation of many species
in an effort to stir up the Christian's animal passion and cause him in
fighting back to destroy himself with his own poison.
Christians must oppose
evil and false doctrine within and without the church, but let us take
care! The Devil and his emissaries are not limited as to weapons, but
the Christian must not employ "carnal weapons"
(2
Cor. 10:4) in his
warfare. Let us not in anger and frustration generated by this fact
destroy ourselves. Let us humbly and meekly bear the onslaughts of the
wicked employing only truth as our weapon in withstanding his attack.
Bitterness, hate, evil-speaking, innuendo, misrepresentation are the
"carnal weapons" of the evil one. Faith, truth, loyalty, purity, and
works of faith are the armaments of Christians. With these God can and
will give us the victory!
Other Articles by James Adams
A Stone of Witness
Splendid Discontent
Rascals are Always Sociable
A Presbyterian Preacher and a Divine
Principle