[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2025]
Last week saw the start of the lunar new year, an event commonly known as the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese calendar, the New Year is triggered by the closest new moon to the beginning of Spring. This year the corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar is 29th January; the next New Year will be 17th February 2026.
In the Chinese calendar, each year is associated with an animal; this year it is the year of the serpent, otherwise known as the year of the snake. In Chinese symbology, snakes are regarded as intelligent, with a tendency to lack scruples.[1] Adam and Eve would probably be inclined to agree.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3 v1 [ESVUK]
In the natural world we are often fearful of snakes; sometimes our fear is justified, sometimes it is not. Is our innate distrust of them due to a subconscious recollection of the events in Genesis? Be that as it may, we all encounter serpents in our spiritual lives. They may take the form of temptations, evil thoughts, or even simple distractions. In his final hours, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus advised his followers to pray that they be not led into temptation.[2]
Despite that, trials, temptation and trouble will come our way. The apostle Paul reassured his readers:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10 v13 [NIVUK]
So much for the snakes, what about the ladders?
Ladders are a means whereby we can reach new heights. With a ladder we can pick the choicest fruit on the tree, reach the sweet jar on the top shelf or access the treasures that are hidden in the attic.
Ladders are invaluable as a means of escape. The tallest turntable escape ladders in Europe are operated by the London Fire Brigade. They have a maximum reach of over 200 feet, but that is insignificant when compared to the one that Jacob saw near Luz:
Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Genesis 28 v12 [NKJV]
Jacob’s vision culminated in him receiving a promise from God:
I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Genesis 28 v15 [ESVUK]
Has God made a similar commitment to us? We are reminded of the promise that Jesus made to his disciples, that there is a place for them in his father’s house and that he is going in order to prepare it for them, and his prayer to his father that all who believe in him will be with him there.[3]
Our spiritual ‘ladder’ has only one cross-bar, but that is enough.
There is a way for us to rise to that sublime abode:
an offering and a sacrifice, a Holy Spirit’s energies,
an advocate with God.
Thomas Binney (~1826)
References:
[1] Wikipedia accessed 29/Jan/2025.
[2] Mark 14:38
[3] John 14:2, John 17:24
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Last week’s reflection: Hope, In Our Time?
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys