The Lemming, The Pacific Salmon, And The Caterpillar

But soon again our spiritual growth encounters another

dark avenue within our sinful nature. Another time of

struggle, growth, repentance and casting off! Each day is movement as we struggle toward something wonderful. Remember how the process of growth ends for the caterpillar. The day finally comes when the body of the caterpillar is covered with a gray shell-- on the outside it is lifeless and terminated.

But not so! And again you know this. Whatever the

outward appearance may suggest, the life of the caterpillar is not dead but going through a great transition. Indeed, its whole past life-- all its eating activity (and as gardeners know caterpillars have great appetites), the sum of all this energy and eating and moving and struggling and being CULMINATES AS THE COCOON BREAKS OPEN, AND A BEAUTIFUL CREATURE FLIES FOR THE FIRST TIME INTO THE SKY ON NEW WINGS.

Many of us–I hope most of us–are like the caterpillar. Our life is a spiritual journey as we walk, not toward death, but toward a wonderful new beginning. A new beginning which the Lord Jesus promised His followers when He said that He goes to prepare a home for us.

In this Fallen world, of course we have our struggles, and perhaps none greater than with our own sin. Yet, by God’s grace, our struggles end in a wonderful new life filled with beauty and fresh, exciting experiences.

Unlike the butterfly that dies, the Saints of God will soar forever, ever higher, into pleasures and joy unspeakable!

There is only one name under heaven by which we are

saved. Jesus Christ suffered our penalty for sin, destroyed the power of death, and now gives to us an eternal destiny. Eden is recaptured in Jesus Christ! We are given Resurrection Life!

Our new home in eternity was made for us through the

torturous death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ who is, as Paul proclaims, the first fruit of Resurrection Life.

Because He lives, exclaims St. Paul, "we too shall live." And we shall be changed, for the mortal will have put on immortality, the Apostle tells us.

"We don’t know what we will be like," the Bible says, "but we will be like Him."

My caterpillar friends in the pews, I don’t need to tell you how powerfully the risen Son chases away the shadow of death. You know the joy-- it searches you out, sometimes when you are feeling very low, and transports you with visions of heaven awaiting you! A New Jerusalem that lasts forever to gives you joy-- Joy! JOY!! J-O-Y!!! forever in the presence of God.

And to the lemmings and Pacific Salmon out there– COME

AND JOIN US! Ask God to forgive your sin and He will. Ask God to change you into a Caterpillar, and He will! Expect that someday He will make you into a Butterfly, and He will!

Be active in your caterpillar colony here at Immanuel.

Worship weekly together with your parish family which

helps keep you strong in the faith; a faith leading to

everlasting life! DO IT! DO IT!!

Join with the saints of God, now and forever! Be fruitful to the glory of God as you stay attached to Jesus Christ the true Vine.

PRAISE BE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO CONQUERED OUR SIN AND OUR DEATH AND NOW GIVES US AN ETERNAL DESTINY--AS THE SAINTS SHALL LIVE WITH HIM-- FOREVER IN JOY! AMEN.