gaining mastery

Some years ago a great tragedy occurred in England. The following eyewitness account was given by E.G. Clark: “After the man had shown his complete mastery over several lions, tigers, leopards, and hyenas, he concluded his act by introducing an enormous boa constrictor nearly thirty feet long. He had bought the reptile when it was two or three days old, and for twenty-five years had handled it daily so that he considered it perfectly harmless and completely under his control. As the huge serpent slithered along, its head erect, its bright eyes sparkling, the entertainer gave a pre-arranged signal to the powerful creature. As it had done every day before, it began to coil its heavy folds around him. Higher and higher it rose until the man and the serpent seemed blended into one, and the hideous head of the snake was raised above his own. Suddenly the trainer gave a muffled cry, and the audience broke into applause. Their cheers however, froze on their lips, for it soon became obvious that the man’s scream was a death wail of agony. Without warning, the boa constrictor’s serpent-nature had returned, and its shiny, rippling body embraced him for the last time. The crowd heard bone after bone crack as the killer tightened its hold. The man’s plaything had become his master and destroyer.”
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What a picture of sin this presents. One may toy with it and consider himself free. But the day will come when it will ‘take over.’ Eventually Satan will gain mastery if we let him into our life!
Bk7.28