photo by pixabay

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25

Last fall, we found this enormous caterpillar. We put him in a terrarium to watch for a few days. The next day there was a fuzzy cocoon in the back corner of the terrarium. We were so excited! We thought in a few weeks, it would hatch out and we would see what kind of moth we had. Our best guess from caterpillar pictures was a luna moth. We waited and watched and waited some more. Nothing happened. It appeared the caterpillar in the cocoon had not survived. We were disappointed but we didn't clean out the cocoon. Other matters were taking our attention.

April was beginning to bring warmer weather and better light. Last Thursday afternoon, one of the children noticed a big brown blob on the covering of the terrarium. No, we still had not bothered to clean the terrarium. Everything in it was as dead as the winter outside, or so we thought. We all gathered to take a look. There was a huge brown moth just clinging to the screen. It wasn't moving. It must be dead, but we left it alone. Wrong again. The next morning, it had dropped to the bottom and spread its wings. Two big beautiful brown eye dots glared from each wing, enough to scare any predator. All day we watched, but it didn't move until the afternoon. As one of the children took another look, the moth began to flop and knock against the sides of the terrarium. It was obviously alive and kicking. I trapped him with a net against the screen top. We took it outside to let it free. For a few moments it dropped to the top of my sneaker, then... with the clumsy fluttering of giant wings, it flew up and off across the yard to a distant oak. The children waved and yelled their good-byes and see you agains. 

God always has ways to give us pictures to help us understand His word, his plan. In John 11 we read the story of Lazarus. Lazarus was sick and eventually died. By the time Jesus came, Lazarus had been dead four days. They were all sure he was dead. He really was dead, but when Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, Lazarus was as alive as you and I. Jesus is the only One who has the power to give life to the dead. Jesus created moths and butterflies to help us with a spiritual explanation. When the caterpillar spins the cocoon or chrysalis, it looks very dead, but when it comes forth, it is a new creature. It is no longer a caterpillar but a beautiful moth or butterfly. It can never go back to its old life. When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins, He changes us. We are dead to our old live and we have a new life in Christ. One day, when Jesus calls, all that are in the grave will come forth, just as Lazarus did. Some will come alive to live with Jesus eternally. Some to die the second death in the lake of fire. 

Make this day the day you allow Jesus to make you a new creature in Him.

Blessings,

Gail 

Hey Kids:

Have you ever read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle?

The caterpillar was doing just fine until he chose to eat food that is not good for caterpillars. He tried to go back to eating caterpillar food but his course was set. He had to spin the cocoon and allow God to change him into a beautiful butterfly. The butterfly is a perfect picture of how we must recognize we are sinners. We must die to our old way of life and let Jesus change us to live a new life in Him. 

What other things in Jesus' creation demonstrates death to an old life and resurrection to a new life?

Here are some hints to help you investigate.

Frogs: Discover the frog life cycle. Write out a spiritual application of the frog.

Seeds: Grow a few seeds in a plastic bag to discover a plant life cycle. Then write out the spiritual application. 

Are there friends or websites for you to share your discoveries? 

We would be glad for you to share with us here. 

Deception - There's a Roaring Lion in My Garden

On my way down to the garden, I spied what appeared to be an empty cocoon lying on the ground under the oak tree. When I picked it up, I realized it was the empty egg sac of a praying mantis. It reminded me of an empty tomb, full of death. The Carolina Mantis is a native to my state. It’s also the official state insect. No wonder, because here in the Bible belt, if it has to do with religion we are all about that! A lot of folks like the idea of God creating a bug that demonstrates prayer.  Exactly my point - all about anything that appears to be religious. Even the name mantis has a religious connotation. Mantis comes from the Greek, “mantikos” meaning soothsayer or prophet. How wonderful to have a praying prophet in my garden or is it?

The praying mantis appears to fold its hands in prayer as if asking grace or the blessing as we say down South. But in truth, the praying mantis is lying in wait for some unsuspecting prey. He has long spikes attached to those praying hands that will hold any insect, good or bad, tightly in its grip while it chows down on the live bug. The praying mantis does not care if the bug is good or bad. He may be camouflaged near a flower, waiting to snatch a native bee whose only job is to pollinate and make honey for its hive and for us. He may be waiting on that potato bug that’s chomping on your crop, either way, the mantis just wants something else to devour. It will even eat other mantis if any are around.  After its meal, it uses those strong arms to wash its face, cleaning itself of the deadly deed.

 A praying mantis can turn its head 180 degrees. If someone tries to sneak up on it, it turns its head and looks straight at them, as if daring them to try anything. His sharp mandibles (his chompers) can even cut human skin.

I’m really not afraid of the praying mantis in my garden, but I am watchful for Satan’s emissaries who appear to be religious, maybe even appearing to be an angel from heaven (Galatians 1:8). God’s purpose for His creation is for us to learn from it. Jesus tells us to “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15. A few verses later He tells us how to know the difference. We have to become fruit inspectors. Do we know God’s Word well enough to know the difference in the truth and a lie that just sounds good?

This week let us all “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” I Peter 5:8

Blessings,

Gail