stephen R Harrison

Tuesday, at our church’s All Staff meeting, something incredible happened that reminded me of Jesus’ power over sin, evil, and the devil. We present the staff member of the month with a gift card along with the golden rock. Last month, one of the pastors at Summit Bentonville received it. When I was there last weekend, I retrieved the rock for this month’s recipient. In the middle of our meeting, I forgot I left the rock in my truck and slipped out to get it. When I got it out of the back seat and turned around, a snake was a few steps in front of me. I dropped the rock on the snake and killed it. It all happened so fast, as it either slipped up on me or I walked over it without noticing it. I didn’t really have time to see if it was poisonous – I just reacted.

This has been a tough season of ministry. A church member died suddenly on Saturday. I went to bed Sunday after talking with another church member who lost their mom and woke up Monday with another who had lost their grandfather. That’s after an elder lady in the church had died a few days earlier. I’ve been counseling several (I mean several) who are struggling with various sins, grief, and hurt. There have been so many serious situations that it’s made me not want to answer the phone, as it may just be more bad news! There was a heaviness as I went into our All Staff meeting, not to mention a heavy announcement we had to make to the staff. I needed a win! So did a lot of people in our church. We did get to celebrate a couple of babies being born this month, a few salvations, and baptisms. Also, while repentant times are heavy, they should be considered wins in the Kingdom.

As I reentered the All Staff meeting, the Spirit hit me with a precious truth from the rock and snake encounter – Jesus, THE Rock, had crushed the head of the serpent the devil! He had defeated sin, death, hell, and the grave on the cross and through the resurrection! That illustration reminded me although we struggle in a spiritual war, we fight from a place OF victory. We don’t fight for victory – Jesus has already won! What a needed reminder!

Genesis 3:15 tells us about the first gospel mention, or the protoevangelium. This is the first mention or announcement of Jesus the Savior. Jesus is the “Seed of the woman” (Eve) in this verse. While the serpent (satan) struck/bruised the heel of the Messiah, killing him on the cross, Jesus did not stay dead. He rose victoriously from the grave! Jesus crushed the head – total dominance! Satan is a defeated foe. While we may experience death, sin, hurt, and tragedy on this earth, Jesus has ultimately overcome them all and completely heals us in heaven. Satan will be overthrown for good, thrown eternally into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Jesus is the serpent crusher. The God of peace has crushed satan under his feet (Romans 16:20).

I may have stomped on that snake a few too many times on the way out of the meeting that day – at least once for every church member and friend as a symbol of the victory over sin, death, tragedy, hurt, hell, and so much more. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:57)!