Recently I came across something I had clipped out of a church newsletter forty years ago. The title was “A Prayer for More Rattlesnakes” by T.A. Raedeke, D.D.

Once upon a time there was a family of wayward members of a church. At one time they were active members but they had lost all interest and had fallen away. The deacons had talked to the father and three sons – Jim, John and Sam – about their condition. The preacher had visited them and many of the members had tried to get them to come back to church, but all had failed.

One day when the boys were out in the pasture, a large rattlesnake bit John and he became very ill. A physician was called, and after an examination he pronounced John to be in critical condition. The doctor said, “About all you can do now is pray,” and then went on his way. The father called the preacher and told him of John’s condition and asked him to pray for John. This the was preacher’s prayer.

“Oh wise and righteous Father, we thank Thee that in Thy wisdom Thou hast sent this rattlesnake to bite John in order to bring him to his senses. He has not been inside the church house for years, and it is doubtful that in all that time he has felt the need of prayer. Now we trust that this will be a valuable lesson to him and that it will lead him to genuine repentance.”

“And now, O Father, wilt Thou send another snake to bite Sam, and another to bite Jim, and a BIG ONE to bite the old man. We have been doing everything we know for years to restore them but to no avail. It seems that all of our combined efforts could not do what this snake has done. We thus conclude that the only thing left that will do this family any good is more rattlesnakes. So Lord, send us bigger and better rattlesnakes. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

I’m sure you all know people who need a rattlesnake, a wake-up call, something that will cause them to turn back to God. Don’t give up on them. It will not be too late until they die.

God has sent His messengers, like John the Baptizer, to call people to repent and turn back to God.

Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

He continues to send those who have turned to Him to be His witnesses to those who still need to turn to the Lord. Let Him use you as a “rattlesnake” and an wake up call, pointing people to Jesus and His love, ensuring they will be with us in the throng around the Lamb in His kingdom singing His praises.

1 Kings 8:58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers.