She led me outside. There in the driveway was a stick with something small attached to it. She was all smiles as she walked toward the stick and then carefully picked it up. "SEE!!!!? It's gonna be a butterfly!!!!"
Can you believe the beauty of this chrysalis? Look at the perfectly, detailed gold markings! According to my findings, (sorry, I didn't mean to sound like Velma from Scooby-doo) but anyway, according to my findings, this is the chrysalis of a monarch butterfly.
I always thought the caterpillar just went in there, grew some wings and came out a caterpillar with wings. Maybe the scene from "Alice in Wonderland" with the caterpillar influenced my thinking. In researching the chrysalis, I found that the caterpillar actually dies in there, and through metamorphosis, he is chanaged into a butterfly. That means that this little guy literally digests itself from the inside out. Isn't that amazing? He enters the cacoon a creeping caterpillar, and will emerge a beautiful butterfly! No longer will he crawl along the earth. Now, he will fly above it.
What a picture of the work done in my own life! I have been changed from the inside, too. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 10:9, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will place their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Romans 10:13 "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death.
I remember hearing this as a little girl. And around the age of 9, I prayed, thanking God for the gift of his son, and apologizing to Him for my sinful ways. I knew in my heart that God sent Jesus, my Savior, to die on the cross for my sins, and that He raised Jesus from the dead. I put my faith and trust in Jesus.
As the years went by, all salvation meant to me was, "no Hell for Becky." I even remember thinking, "I'm on my way to heaven, so why do I have to actually live differently? Why not have fun while I'm here on earth? What's the meaning of living like a Christian?" Salvation is NOT just "fire insurance." Salvation should reflect a changed life! How stupid would it be for that caterpillar to say, "I like it in here. I'm never coming out." My teenage years consisted of impressing my friends and appearing "cool." Talking about God was very much "not cool," and besides it made me feel uncomfortable. I didn't want my friends to think I was some weirdo....well, at least "weirder" than what they already knew of me. :o) When I was 16, all that thinking changed. I dedicated my life to God. My friends were not always going to be there, but God sure is. And being cool is,..... well....it's over-rated. :o) I want to be impressive in the eyes of God! I could tell you sad story after sad story of where those "cool friends" are today. I am changed because of the Lord Jesus Christ living in me! I am a new creature in Him!
And while I have breath, I will spend the rest of my days praising Him! He gave His life for me!!
Why, oh why, wouldn't I want to give mine back to Him?
5 comments:
Beautifully said sweet girl. LYG
Great thoughts, Beck. Thanks.
BTW--You're right--that is a monarch butterfly chrysalis! Katie did this in Mrs. Radford's class--she would be a wealth of information if you are going to watch it morph and release it. . . . have fun! :)
You impress me, friend...and I still think you're cool! :0) And all God's people said, "AMEN!" :0)
Really?! I'm cool???
-Yesssssssssssssss.
Great investigative work, Velma.
I can't believe all of the neat things the kids are discovering. I loved reading your testimony.
As for the butterfly, I hope he had a good hike back into the woods (and next time, puleez allow him to dry his wings off before you send him on his way)!
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