It comes as no great surprise considering what happened in the wilderness.
The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
Job 18:10
Has a snare been placed in the path of the Bride of Christ, the church? Has the world changed its operation mode or changed its strategy to fit the changing times? Has an alternate philosophy appeared over the horizon, orchestrated by the world?
The world cannot separate the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, from his Bride, but it will attempt to separate them. This is the snare that has been laid in the path of the Bride of Christ.
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
Exodus 34:12
Webster’s dictionary defines the word snare as a setup, a plot constructed in deceit to tear something down. The groundwork is being laid right now. The snare is well-camouflaged and cloaked, appearing to be one thing but actually another.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mathew 24:24
So how is the snare spreading and filtering through the church and squeezing by watchful eyes, flying under the radar undetected? It is riding on the back of one of the oldest tricks in the book: the cares of the world. The philosophy is to keep the church busy running after the world. Then, it will be too busy to concentrate on salvation, too busy for Bible Study, too busy for Sunday school, and even too busy to pray. That is a snare, my friend. We know we must live in the world, but the Bible says we must not be of the world. Jesus gave us a prime example of being too busy:
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:39-42
Mary, Martha’s sister, sat at Jesus’s feet hearing the Word, but Mary was cumbered, burdened down, and hindered with serving—no doubt, expecting Jesus to back her up (verse 41). But look what Jesus told her! And so, the moral of this story is, whatever we are doing, do not let it come before Jesus Christ, or it will surely turn into a snare.
Then there is the snare of keeping up with the Joneses, the snare of material things.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
The older saints had a saying, “It was like a cat running after its own tail. But if the cat ever catches it and bites down, he will leave it alone the next time.” That is what they would say about people who put material things before the Lord. They work their hands to the bone and spend it all on the world.
Last but not least, there is the snare of vainglory, seeking human glory for the sake of oneself.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:26
This spirit has crept into the church, the spirit of competition. And the world comes to judge the contest. Who can out-sing the other? Who has the largest church? Who owns the biggest jet, and who has the most members? It is a snare, my friend, placed in the path of the Bride of Christ, his church, to distract from the plan of salvation. We must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices and lean to our own understanding. Satan is laying a snare for all of the saints of God.
Our only hope is in Jesus Christ. The snare of sin out there. Sometimes, an animal that is caught in a snare will even bite off its own limbs to escape. Sin will do the same thing. It will catch us in its snare and cause us to destroy ourselves. The wages of sin is death. Our only hope is in Jesus Christ. His Bride, his church, will not end up in the snares of this world.