Recently I watched a documentary on PBS about the invasion of the Burmese python into the Everglades National Park in south Florida. According to this program, there is an estimated 150,000 pythons in the park and the number is growing. These snakes can grow to be very large and they have no natural enemies in this environment. There are countless other alien species there and together with the snakes, they are destroying the natural habitat at an alarming rate. Some authorities say there is no way to eradicate them, only to keep them under control. Others are more pessimistic; they think the problem has been ignored too long and that nothing can be done to reverse the damage.
These snakes are consuming the animals and birds as well as what they feed on to survive. The only creatures they cannot kill and eat are the really large alligators and native crocodiles. However, as the documentary pointed out, there are very few of these creatures and their young are being preyed upon every day.
As I watched this program, I was reminded of another natural garden spot that was invaded by a snake and was ultimately uninhabitable by man—the Garden of Eden.  The snake that was able to slither his way in was Satan himself. And, like the Burmese python, ever since that day he has been attacking mankind and his offspring, and has been taking over as much of God’s creation as he can. But, like the python has the large powerful alligators, Satan has someone that is more powerful than him—the omnipotent God who created the world he is trying to destroy.
Unlike the creatures who are helpless to overcome the attack of the Burmese pythons, we are not without a protector. Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God, came from his throne in heaven to live among us and show us the face of God. He suffered and died on a Roman cross to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, so that we might be acceptable to our Father in heaven. When we come to him and confess our sins and repent and ask for his forgiveness, He forgives us and receives us into his kingdom. He does not forsake us or leave us to fight alone our earthly and spiritual battles with the devil. He empowers us with His Holy Spirit and with his help, we can overcome.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.â€Â Romans 8:35-39
 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.â€Â John 16:33
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God be for us, who can be against us?†Romans 8:31