Most of our readers know that I have a passion for God’s creation. One that I have found particularly interesting is the Indian Wing butterfly. When its wings are open, it is vibrant and captivating! It is almost mesmerizing.

But the Indian Wing butterfly has another name. Its other name is the Dead Leaf butterfly because God created it with the gift of camouflage. It looks exactly like a dead leaf when its wings are closed.

God created this Indian or Dead Leaf butterfly to be a perfect example of death and life all in one beautiful creation.

In a way, Christians are like the Indian butterfly.

We can be a picture of death and life all in one package.

Scripture tells us that Jesus died for our sins, but was raised to life. He is a vibrant and captivating picture of death and life all in one package. And we were once dead in our sin.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,” Ephesians 2:1.

But because of God’s great mercy and Jesus shed blood, we too have been raised from the dead.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5.

We too are a vibrant and captivating picture of death and life all in one package

“The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:10-11.

But we can have something else in common with the Dead Leaf butterfly.

When we walk in the way that we used to walk, we resemble death . When we exhibit the same old anger, addiction, pride, gluttony, greed, covetousness, etc., we resemble death. Then we are mimicking death just like the Dead Leaf butterfly mimics a dead leaf. We mimic death when we behave the way the world does. We mimic death when we keep our wings closed so that those around us have no idea that we are followers of Jesus Christ. When we hide the freedom that we found in Christ, the world misses our vibrant and captivating identity.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT).

By keeping our wings closed, those around us fail to see our vibrant and captivating identity. All they see is sin, shame, guilt, and even death.

But if we will spread our wings, this hurting and dying world will see our vibrant and captivating identity (which is Jesus). And they will repent and turn to God if we will let our light shine.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.

So, are we going to be a vibrant and captivating picture of Life? Or are we going to close up our wings and keep the world from seeing the beauty contained therein? Will we hide our light under a basket? Or will we let our light shine? Let it shine so brightly that the world around us would seek out our Heavenly Father the way a moth seeks out a flame?

Father God, forgive us when we fail to let our light shine. Forgive us when we hide our vibrant and captivating identity from those who so desperately need you. Give us your heart, Lord. Help us to allow our light to shine in an incredibly bright and mesmerizing way. Be glorified in us Father. We pray this in your precious name Jesus.

Are you overwhelmed by all that is going on in the world today? Do you carry around guilt, shame, and pain? God wants to heal you and take away that guilt and shame. Please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Through that prayer, when prayed from the bottom of your heart, God will forgive you. He will take away that guilt and shame and begin to heal your pain. Then you and the Indian butterfly will both be vibrant and captivating.

Please pray that prayer and, once you do, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you. I’d love to welcome you into God’s family. Because when you pray that prayer, He will adopt you as His own precious child. You will begin to experience love and peace that you never knew existed.

Luv Ya!