Danger!

August 14th, 2021| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

Last week, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that a cobra was on the loose in Grand Prairie, near Dallas.

Yup, a cobra! A West African banded cobra (Naja savannula).

(And in case you see it: It is brownish black or black dorsally, with a series of 3-8 broad, cream-colored crossbands, each partly divided by a narrow black crossband.)

With “West African” in the beast’s name, you would hope that it would remain in those parts of the world. Why on earth was this snake slithering around in ye olde State of Texas?

Residents of Grand Prairie, understandably, began raising questions about exotic animal permits (and also about snake-bite treatments).

According to Grand Prairie officials, the reptile escaped from its owner’s home. Police initially said the person had a permit for the snake, but the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said later that the municipality where the owner lives prohibits people from owning this type of snake.

Anyhow various agencies searched for the creature near the 1800 block of Cherry Street (in Dallas County, which considers venomous snakes prohibited animals) last week, but without success. Authorities warned people not to approach or try to catch the snake, which, needless to say, is venomous and considered dangerous.

Statewide, Texans can typically own nonvenomous snakes unless their county dictates otherwise. But snakes that are not native to Texas or are considered exotic and venomous require a TPWD-issued permit in order to be owned. While Texas law has specifications for enclosure types for specified “dangerous wild animals,” snakes are not listed among those creatures. However, a TPWD spokesperson said that a one could face a class A misdemeanor penalty for recklessly, intentionally, or negligently allowing the snake to escape.

The snake’s owner, who asked not to be identified, told a local TV station that he thinks the cobra could have gotten caught inside the walls of his house and died, or died outside from the heat. All he knows is that it has gone AWOL.

I did make a mistake and I feel very sorry for the community. I had been feeding a rat to the snake when I went to get more food. I left to go get food for my other animals down the street and I came back, and the cage door was open by an inch. She must have found a way to open it up.”

Yeah, right.

(And what’s that stuff about “my other animals”? I wonder what those are.)

But there is a beast more dangerous than Naja savannula. And it dwells within us. In fact, it is us.

The “flesh.”

I am of flesh.
Romans 7:14

Producing all kinds of sin.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions.
Galatians 5:19–20

Deserving of the wrath of God—eternal death.

For the mind set on the flesh is death ….
Romans 8:6

But there is an anti-venom for those who believe in Jesus Christ as their only God and Savior from sin. His Spirit enables believers to resist the flesh.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Romans 13:14

Instead …

… walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:16–17

And the result?

The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6

Don’t get bitten!

SOURCE:
Forth Worth Star-Telegram