“Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.” Numbers 21:9
Snake bite! The bite of the seraph snake meant death to those bitten. We can equate this ‘snake bite death’ to sin.
Sin, even a small sin, leads to death of the soul. A small amount of snake venom may do its damage slower but it still does damage. The same for sin. In God’s eyes, even the smallest of venial sin is an aboration. We know a mortal sin separates us from God, it kills the soul instantly. But, many seem to feel that a little sin isn’t as big a deal, often even leaving these out of their confessions.
In C.S. Lewis’ classic book, The Screwtape Letters, where an older demon is seeking to train a younger demon, the mentor say’s to his apprentice, “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one–the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
All sin deserves death, and thus all sin will be paid for either by the sinner or through the cross of Christ. Little sins add up and slowly infect the soul. As one ‘small’ sins adds on top of another ‘small’ sin, the pile grows and the poison infects ever further. Until each small sin breaks the soul down so much that it sees a mortal sin as ‘not so bad.’
We have a cure for the poisonous snake bites of sin that try to destroy the soul – God’s Divine Mercy upon the cross! Gaze upon the crucifix, ask God’s mercy remove all sin and it’s effects from your soul. God’s Divine Mercy and the Sacrament can save your life.
“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
“All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6