Light Grams
June 18, 2026
Volume 30, Number 21
Christopher White, a real estate agent, arrived at the house in Central Arkansas, ready to show the property to a potential buyer. As he waited for the client to arrive, he noticed something moving on the front porch. What he saw was a long black snake attempting to enter the front door. He watched as it climbed a porch railing to join two other long snakes in an old electrical panel mounted near the eaves. There were obviously several snakes in this house!
“I’m not showing this house to anyone today!”, White thought to himself. Like me, he has an aversion to snakes, even if they’re not poisonous. Identified as a black rat snake, this reptile is valued by farmers for keeping rats and mice out of grain. But most people are not anxious to share their homes with such creatures. A video White took of the snakes at the house has gone viral on Instagram.
The house will still sell, but I’m guessing the asking price has dropped significantly. This is not just a fixer-upper, but a clear-out-the-snakes-first handyman project. I wouldn’t want the house even if an exterminator guaranteed that no serpents remained on the property.
Things and people lose their value when infested by undesirable things. The Preacher made this observation long ago: “As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1, NLT). That bottle of perfume was originally quite expensive. With dead flies in the bottle, though, it will be hard to even give it away.
The men Jesus chose to be His apostles are regarded with great honor by most of us; they were given great responsibilities when the Lord returned to heaven. But one of those original twelve is now viewed with disdain; Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Later he was overcome by his guilt and hanged himself. He even spoiled the name he wore (do you know anyone named Judas?).
What got into Judas to make him do such a horrible deed? John gives the answer: “Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered [Judas]” (John 13:27). Shortly after that, Judas went out into the dark night to complete his devilish plan.
Could Satan do something like that with us? 2 Corinthians 11:3 gives this warning: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” “The serpent” is identified in Revelation 12:9 as Satan, or the Devil. Paul says Satan can get into our minds and our hearts and ultimately turn us away from Christ.
We all need to occasionally do some inspecting for snakes: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. …” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Satan can slither his way into our lives without our noticing. His presence will ruin the value God originally placed on our lives.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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