Living above the snake line

Often, I scroll the internet, reading different quotes and their origin. For example: “A penny for your thoughts” was first used by Thomas More, an English lawyer and social philosopher, in 1535. The quote was an attempt by More to reengage someone in conversation. With an ADHD personality, I have heard this phrase a lot.
Crossing the mighty waters with the early settlers, we learn of another quote with much less familiarity. The phrase “living above the snake line” has been buried in the pages of time, yet it was a frequently asked question of a pioneer farmer. A man wishing to purchase farmland wanted his home and fields elevated above the dangerous snake line. This was especially so for the colonists of the New England region of our country.
The “snake line” is an invisible line (believed to be drawn by God) that exists at a certain degree above sea level. Venomous snakes and pesky insects find the thin air of the highlands too uncomfortable for permanent living. The early settlers discovered that the safety of the mountains would allow their children to play freely while they cared for the homestead, farmed, and trapped the wild game.
If there is a snake line in the physical world, there must be one in the spiritual realm, where eternal dangers lie. Adam and Eve discovered this line in the center of the Garden. It was drawn around the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17). Even though Adam and Eve had all they needed, the desire for the forbidden fruit lured them away from God. Deciding to cross the spiritual snake line changed their world forever (Genesis 3).
Moving forward in History, the Children of Israel often found themselves in the center of a changing world. God was leading them to a promised land. For 40 years, their clothing remained intact. Manna fell from Heaven, and water flowed from the rocks. Yet they complained that it was not enough. They wanted more. Their desires caused them to repeatedly slip beneath the proverbial line as they grumbled and complained against God.
Through the ages, people have not changed, including myself. Grass will always be greener on the other side, and desire will always reach for it. Here is a “penny for your thoughts.” God always comes for us. No valley is too deep, nor line so dark that He cannot see His children. His eyes followed Israel throughout their wilderness experience. Try this “food for thought.” Regardless of our circumstances, God constantly remembers His children (Isaiah 49:15).
The Lord knows when we draw too close to the snake line of desire, for the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, watching over good and evil (Proverbs 15:3), including our wilderness. His voice calls out to us. No wasteland can hide us from His presence. For the spirit of the Lord dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). He is with us in our victories and defeats. He understands our needs; He hears our desires and will provide according to His riches in Christ.
Our Father’s greatest desire is for us to walk in the highlands of His grace. The air may be thin. However, He is our breath of life. Therefore, let us learn to live above the snake line. Let our longing be for His will in our lives. In doing so, we will find strength for our journey as we enter His presence.

The Lord God is my strength; he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains. Habakkuk 3:19

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.