The Mousetrap

 

“One day a mouse noticed the truck with a smile delivered a package to the farmer’s house. Curious, the mouse ran to the hole in the wall of the house and peeked in to see what came in the box. As the farmer and his wife opened the box and lifted out its contents, the mouse gasped at the sight of a brand new mousetrap. The couple immediately baited and set the trap placing it near the hole in the wall. In a panic the mouse ran out to the barnyard and told the chicken about the mousetrap. She clucked and scratched and said to the mouse, ‘I have no cause to worry about a mousetrap.’ The mouse scurried around the corner of the barn to find the pig wallowing in the mud. The mouse got its attention and told him about the new mousetrap. The pig grunted and said, ‘A little-bitty mousetrap couldn’t possible hurt me you silly mouse!’ Wriggling through a hole in the wall of the barn the mouse found the cow waiting to be milked. After the mouse had told the cow about the new mousetrap the cow said, ‘You better be careful little buddy. Don’t get temped by the bait and get caught in that trap.’ The mouse was disappointed by the reactions he received from his friends and went away fearful of his eventual plight. Well, that night the farmer’s wife heard the trap “SNAP!” She got out of bed to investigate and found a snake caught by its tail in the trap. The poisonous snake was swishing back and forth on the floor in anger. The farmer’s wife got too close and the snake bit her before the farmer could kill it. The farmer rushed his wife into town for emergency care where the doctor administered the anti-venom needed to combat the snake’s poison and instructed the farmer to take her home, make her rest, and feed her some chicken soup. After the couple had returned home and settled down the farmer went out to the barnyard, found the chicken, cut off her head, and made chicken soup for his wife. After two days she did not appear to be getting any better. The farmer had to get into the field to help with the harvest but did not want to leave his wife alone so called some friends to come to his house to be with her. Knowing he would need to feed those folks, he went out by the barn and found the small pig. After slaughtering the pig there was enough to feed the helpers for several days with pork chops and hams and chitlins. Sadly, the farmer’s wife did succumb to the poison of her assailant. A big funeral was planned and the farmer let it be known that if everyone would bring the trimmings he would supply the meat for the barbeque that his wife loved so much. So the farmer went into the barn, milked the cow, and then slaughtered her for the barbeque that was enjoyed by all. Nearby, the mouse sat on a stump, hanging his head low and with tears in his eyes said, ‘I tried to tell them the farmer had a new mousetrap’”

[1 Peter 5:8] “The Enemy of The Enemy is My Friend.” This proverbial statement is something the Bible also implicitly teaches. It informs us that the Devil is our enemy.  It tells us the enemy of the Devil is the Lord. “…for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me…” (John 14:30-31). And speaking of Jesus it says, “…that by his death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is the devil…” (Hebrews 2:14). Therefore we conclude, the enemy (the Lord) of my enemy (the Devil) is my friend! “For He (Jesus) must reign until He has put all his enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:20-27). “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Amen! The trap has been set for the Devil and his followers (Romans 1:18-32). Will the domino effect sweep you into eternal torment or will your friend (Jesus) save you? (Romans 13:8-14)