Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23
While working in the yard, I noticed a cocoon attached to the bottom of our fence. I thought, What an opportunity to give my kids a lesson in nature! Placing the cocoon in a glass jar with a lid, I set it aside and explained to my children that we would watch one of nature’s marvels: a caterpillar was transforming into a moth or butterfly. We would keep a watch on the jar and see what emerged later.
A few days after, when I was checking on the jar, I noticed a swarm of gnat-sized flies buzzing around inside. I wondered, How could they possibly have gotten into the jar? The lid was secure. I removed the lid, got the little critters out, and examined the cocoon. It was empty; there was nothing inside. What had happened? It was my guess that the little flies had been planted in the cocoon in a larval state. Perhaps the mother of those flies had laid her eggs on the caterpillar’s back. Wrapping himself up in a cocoon provided protection for the eggs until they hatched and devoured him.
Although this happened a long time ago (I am now a grandfather), I vividly recall the experience. I was so surprised at the results of our “nature study” that it occupied my mind for days. Was there a lesson here for me instead of my kids? Considering the familiar comparison of a butterfly’s transformation to that of a new convert, I decided to check out what the Bible had to say on the subject.
Hebrews 12:15 tells us that we can fail of the grace of God through any “root of bitterness springing up” and defiling us. Roots of bitterness are like the eggs planted on the caterpillar’s back; we may not notice them at first, but they will eventually eat away at the work God has done in our lives. For this reason, I purposely make an effort to keep out any bitterness, even though we all go through situations that would make us bitter if we allowed it.
Another important Scripture on this topic is the Lord’s Prayer, when Jesus told us to forgive our debtors as we were forgiven of God. Then, in Matthew 18:23-35, He told a parable of one who did not forgive, even though his lord had forgiven him. Guess what happened? Although he had been forgiven, he became unforgiven. In verse 35 Jesus said, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” In His teachings, Jesus made forgiveness an important part of our personal protection plan. Without it, our “backs” are vulnerable to the “eggs” of the enemy.
My lesson from nature was a reminder that if we keep our hearts with all diligence, we will not have to worry about corruption and damnation, but can look forward to one day being raised to life everlasting.