“Shake The Viper Into The Fire!”

“Shake The Viper Into The Fire!”(Atcs 28:1-6).
The worldview of a people influences the collective perception of reality of those people concerned. Simply put, “worldview is a set of beliefs or mental model of reality that influences the way people perceive, think, know, and act in the world.” My admired Prof. Andrew F. Walls of blessed memory termed it, “a people’s map of the universe.”
Like Africans the Maltese islanders had the African open door system of being welcoming and showing kindness to strangers; especially those saved from a shipwreck.
Like Africans they had a superstitious mentality amongst which was the belief that vipers were very poisonous and its bite could lead to a swelling and instant death. It was also their belief that if one suffered a bite from a viper, then it was punishment for wrongdoings. On the other hand if the one survived, then the one was a god.
People’s opinions do change as quickly as the colours of a chameleon. If the viper that had fastened on Paul’s hand had killed him, they would have held tight to their belief that he was a criminal being punished for his crimes.“But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.” Even so, they were still wrong.
Paul was not a god, but the Lord whom he served was God, and had assured him,“Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome “(Acts 23:11). That is why he was not afraid of the viper fastened on his hand. With faith in the Lord whom he served he shook the snake off into the fire.
When our faith in the Lord is as large as a mustard seed, the Lord will save us from grave dangers. When this happens those who had negative views about us will change their negativity into positivity.
Also, we should not allow the wrong opinions that others have about us to puff us up to assume what we are not! Even when the people changed their minds, their worldview was limited, so for them Paul was a god. But we know he was not a god, he was the servant of the Most High God; a student who can never be above his master! Among the signs that Jesus said will accompany us is, “they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink poison, it will not harm them at all…”(Mk.16:18). But don’t go and start hunting for dangerous snakes to hold them to prove what Jesus said. If you do the snakes will harm you!
My friend, whatever is the snake fastened now on your hand today, with faith, shake it off into the fire!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit be our guide in this stormy journey of life until we get to your desired destination. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.