Death Comes Unexpectedly!

This is not a Charlotte’s Web story (or Pollyanna for those who caught that reference). I’m just saying that this one is a bit more grim. Okay, maybe that’s more than a little melodramatic when we’re talking about the death of a spider.

It showed up in my window this summer. Trapped between the screen and the window it lived its life. It was a stubby black spider with really big front legs. He was a muscled up guy who was living large off all the bugs that were attracted to the light coming through my window. I watched him for several weeks. Every day he was moving and actively seeking out his next meal. I watched him grow and get larger. He was king of his little domain. Until today.

As I was working on several projects on my computer in front of my window I glanced up perhaps at some movement. What I saw was a bit shocking. My spider was backing away from the upper right corner and another spider was charging at him. The new spider had longer legs and a thinner body but the battle if you could call it that was over in a few seconds. The new spider skillfully cast its web and almost magically it appeared and completely bound my spider. I was rooting for my guy. I’d been watching him for several weeks and it was over in a moment. I felt like a Florida State fan when ‘Bama comes to town.

The new spider wrapped up his prey and started carrying him over to his lair. It was over. The violence of it and the quickness of it surprised me. But that’s the way life goes. There are so many times when we think we have it all together. We think we are in control. But suddenly a new enemy shows – maybe it is cancer, maybe it is an unexpected issue with our finances, maybe it is a marriage that is crumbling.

Be sure of this. We do not live in a world of peace and safety. We live in a fallen world. We live in a battle zone. We have an enemy. “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, CSB) He will steal your freedom and wrap you in chains. He will rob you of your vitality and suck the very life out of you.

“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10, CSB)

And there is this powerful word of assurance: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, CSB) If you belong to Jesus then He has already laid down His life for you. His victory over sin, death, and hell is your victory. You can’t lose.

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27–30, CSB)

As for my spider, well, I’m still a bit upset about that. Oh sure, I know, Garfield whacks one every week in his comic strip. I stepped on one in the bathroom the other day and it didn’t bother me a bit. I guess I had just kind of enjoyed watching the little guy. So I’m sure that with counseling and extensive therapy, I’ll get over it someday. Maybe I’ll go see the new Spiderman…