THE lovely many-colored butterfly, fly, that you see among the flowers in the garden, floating in the golden sunshine, was not always as it is now. It once was
A CREEPING WORM, weak and worthless, liable to be crushed by the foot of a man, a loathsome thing that is cast out wherever it is seen. Such we all are, by nature and by practice, all as “an unclean thing” (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)), unfit for heaven, unable to rise upward, or to be occupied with “things above” (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)). In process of time after feeding upon earthly plants and leaves, this creeping caterpillar becomes what is then called
A CHRYSALIS. At first it lies quietly, unable to move far or fly at all, although it has life. It remains thus in its cone-like house for a time. And in this it resembles some boys and girls I have known. They profess to be converted, to have spiritual life, but they lack liberty, and seem to make no progress heavenward. But one fine morning, the little living dweller in that cone, bores a hole through its house, or bursts it, coming out into light and liberty, finding itself in a new world. He has short wings, and is able to get about among the flowers and plants, picking up what he likes and enjoys. This is like one who has believed on Christ, who has got both life from and liberty in Him.
A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY. See his gorgeous colors, his strong wings, able to rise and live in the warmth of the summer sunshine. This is what a living Christian is like. And when the last grand change comes, at resurrection, all who are saved will then bear the full image of Christ. How wonderful this will be!
J.R.
ML-03/25/1962