Have you ever seen a Chinese Lantern Flower? I never realized it was actually a real plant. I thought it was a plastic ornament used around for fall decorations. This flower has to be one of the most unique flowers ever created. It blooms a white delicate flower that eventually get enveloped by a hard green pod. As the pod continues to grow it changes into a soft orange pod and eventually the orange pod begins to fade away, leaving a web looking encasement around an orange heart-shaped pod hanging inside.
As I begin to look at this wonderful plant I realized it was a beautiful picture of what the Lord does in our lives. He created us in his image and we were pure and white. Satan came along and engulfed our lives and built a hard shell around us to the point that all the beauty was gone. Over time, change began to take place in our lives as we allowed the Lord to soften us. After the whole plant has died the orange heart shaped pod within is still alive. It is the only part of the plant that is not poisonous. This heart-shaped pod is full of seeds and can be used in various ways.
This plant cries out. "It's not what is on the outside that counts, God looks on the heart." When all of life has faded away, what will your heart look like? Will it be filled with seeds that can be planted and lead others to Christ or will it be dried up and withered away like the rest of the Chinese Lantern.
I must say I stood in awe as I realized that the Lord created everything great and small to proclaim his deity and his story. For him to take a plant and for it to grow with that much wonder and amazement shows there is a reason for everything in life. We were not just placed here by chance. If the flowers can tell the story of the creation, fall and redemption of man, then why do we struggle so much telling it.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
(Psalm 19:1-14)
No comments:
Post a Comment