Analogy of the Butterfly

Like the caterpillar, humans come in many colors and sizes. As we travel life‘s pathway, we ripple along on the many legs of our thoughts and ideals. At times, as we think lofty thoughts about God; we munch the leaves of progress, at other times we hunch up our backs with pride and disdain for God‘s promises, slowly going nowhere. When we act in this manner our lives become empty and hollow, easily squashed by the heels of life‘s problems.

Some people come to a point in their lives, when they become aware of their emptiness and long for ways to fill their hollow void. They try drugs, alcohol or sex. Others remember the Sunday Schools of their youth or the past encouragement of a christian they met and turn to God. Those that get this far, are then slowly wrapped in the arms of God‘s love. It doesn‘t happen overnight, but slowly, a single thread at a time, until they are fully enveloped. Their natural sinful state becomes a dry, crusty shell and their new spiritual man gently undergoes a metamorphosis into the person God wants them to be. While wrapped in the cocoon of God’s love, nothing can remove them from His shelter. Neither the storms of life nor the winds of change can shake them from their steadfast faith in Him.

Then, at the appointed time of their maturity, they start to loosen themselves from God‘s cocoon of protection to fly on their own, led by their immoveable faith and trust in their creator. They stretch out their gossamer wings of faith and show to the world the inner beauty that only a person who trusts in God can have. They fly from person to person sharing the sweet nectar of the gospel and allowing people to see the inner beauty that God in His goodness outwardly reveals.

However, unlike the butterfly, they are not fragile. They are armed with the weapons and armor of spiritual warfare. Using their wings that are steeled by the Word of God, they fly out into the world, ready to combat the forces of evil and raze the gates of Hell, confident in their surety of victory that has already been given to them two thousand years ago at the cross of Christ.

The Martyr's Call

THE MARTYR’S CALL

Wars, false christs and deception

Lead men astray from redemption

Put on your armor christians all

For have you not heard the martyr’s call?


Famines and earthquakes in various places

Affect all nations, tribes and races

Your sisters may weep, your brothers fall

Have you heard the martyr’s call?


Hatreds, persecutions and ordeals

Satan’s looking for some souls to steal

Fast and furious as a winter squall

Have you heard the martyr’s call?


Trials, tribulations and the abomination

Wreak havoc on earth and desolation

Lift up your heads, stand straight and tall

Aren’t you hearing the martyr’s call?


Victory and honor, no more disgrace

Fighting the good fight and winning the race

Soon we’’ll be at the Wedding Ball

For we have heard the martyr’s call



Satan is angry, his time is short

All the demons to him report...

"We don’t understand, our sanity we doubt

We don’t see what they’re smiling about."


Under the altar one by one

Praising the name of God’s Son

Go those brave souls who didn’t fall

When they heard the martyr’s call.


Let all the halls of heaven ring

As we shout praises to our King

No more weeping at the wailing wall

For those who heard the martyr’s call.


A martyr’s crown we will receive

Because in Jesus we believe

We did not fear, nor shrink from death

Worshiping God with our dying breath


At the end of this age, God is calling for you

Will you be ready, willing and able to...

Stand and fight and never fall

Will you heed the martyr’s call?

By Ron Shephard ©©