In early September as days turn cooler, large numbers of beautiful black and orange monarch butterflies begin to gather in flocks. Many of these are in the far eastern provinces of Canada, and others are in Alaska and western Canada. Then, as if by some mysterious signal, each flock takes off in a great cloud that becomes several miles wide and many miles long. They have started a southern migration. Those on the Atlantic Coast are headed for the Gulf Coast areas of Florida and Mexico; most on the Pacific Coast are headed for Pacific Grove, California. Each group has about two thousand miles to cover.
An amazing highlight of these flights is that these butterflies have never made this trip before—there are no parents along to guide them, because they have all died during the summer. How then do these young butterflies know the right time to leave? How do they know where to go? How do these fragile insects have the strength to travel so far, sometimes over mountains and across ocean waters? How can they stay on course in strong winds? None of this could ever happen if it were not for a Divine Power guiding and directing them. Their Creator provided them with the ability to make these migrations when He designed them as part of His wonderful creation. Year after year, He provides every need for them to reach their destinations.
After their arrival, the monarchs spend quiet lives in the warm southern climate, living entirely on nectar from flowers. But as wintertime passes, the urge to return north is evident. Usually during June they migrate northward in great flocks, returning to the areas they left the preceding fall.
It is God who prepares these amazing creatures for their long journeys, and He wants to see you prepared in the right way for your life's journey. The final destination for each of us is not to remain here on earth, but we will enter either heaven or hell when we finish life here on earth. He who "is not willing that any should perish" offers you salvation through faith in Christ and His work on the cross—the requirement for entrance into heaven.
When Christ comes back for those who have accepted Him as Savior, He wants you to be among those who will leave this world "to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)). How sad for those who refuse His offer of salvation to hear those awful words: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire" (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)). We urge you to accept His loving offer now, so that you will enter in and be part of those events "which God [has] prepared for them that love Him" (1 Cor. 2:99But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)).
(to be continued)