CREATION SPEAKS: One Must Die so Another May LIve

William Wise Photography’s Creation Speaks is a Biblical teaching ministry that uses nature writing and photography to glorify our Creator and teach the truth of creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9

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"Who died for us, that we should live together with him." 
​    -1 Thessalonians 5:10

When my daughter tested positive for coronavirus, it was into self isolation for another two weeks. Now, two weeks off of work might sound nice, but I actually enjoy my job. And being unable to get out and observe and photograph this wonderful creation was also a bummer. So when I had a wildlife encounter in my own driveway late one evening, I considered it a gift!

A slow slithering movement on the edge of the grass caught my attention. What looked to be a large-headed snake was writhing just in front of the wheels of my parked truck. As I approached, I discovered a garter snake and its “large head” was actually a Southern Toad being swallowed whole.

I considered this encounter a gift from the Creator to ease my boredom. I’m sure the snake thought also thought this juicy morsel was a gift from his Provider. (But I’m not so sure about the toad!) It was a bit saddening to watch the toad, still fully aware and struggling, to be swallowed alive. But that’s how it is: one must die so another may live.
So too it was with our Savior Jesus Christ. When sin entered the picture, all of us humans were sentenced to eternal death. But One came to die – One innocent and free from the guilt of sin – so that the rest of us could live.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." ​Romans 6:23

I was hoping to film the entire encounter, but as the garter snake became nervous with our presence, I feared he might spit out his meal. So I backed off, went in the house and considered what creation speaks behind the gift of this wild encounter in my own yard. ​