“Many people find beetles and bugs somewhat creepy,
but there’s one beetle in the world that could turn you into a beetle lover –
the jewel scarab. Jewel scarabs live in the jungles of Honduras and have the
shape of your regular Christmas beetle. But their colours are so dazzling and
beautiful that they can sell for up to $500 a beetle. Beautiful flaming reds,
bright golds, silvers that resemble bright, shiny chrome. Even the beetle hater
finds jewel scarabs dazzling and beautiful!
“But the jewel scarab’s beauty doesn’t come automatically. Every scarab has modest, even ugly beginnings. The scarab starts life as a soft, mushy, grey-white grub growing inside a rotting tree stump. They spend their life like this for around a year, until finally, when the rainy season arrives, the adult scarabs emerge soft bodied and pale. The within hours, their bodies harden and their splendid colours show. They only live for another three months, but what a glorious existence it is.”*
Is there something about yourself that you don’t consider very beautiful or attractive? Most of us can probably think of something about our physical appearance that we would like to change. But I want you to think about more than just external matters. It could be an ugly attitude that embarrasses us. Or maybe words or actions that have brought shame to our lives. Perhaps our relationships are a mess.
“But the jewel scarab’s beauty doesn’t come automatically. Every scarab has modest, even ugly beginnings. The scarab starts life as a soft, mushy, grey-white grub growing inside a rotting tree stump. They spend their life like this for around a year, until finally, when the rainy season arrives, the adult scarabs emerge soft bodied and pale. The within hours, their bodies harden and their splendid colours show. They only live for another three months, but what a glorious existence it is.”*
Is there something about yourself that you don’t consider very beautiful or attractive? Most of us can probably think of something about our physical appearance that we would like to change. But I want you to think about more than just external matters. It could be an ugly attitude that embarrasses us. Or maybe words or actions that have brought shame to our lives. Perhaps our relationships are a mess.
Take heart! As
the saying goes -- God isn’t done with us yet!
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with
fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to
work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13). God specializes in taking the damaged,
embarrassing, shameful, and ugly parts of our lives and reworking them for His
purposes. If we surrender our lives to
His reworking, the results can be dazzling and beautiful!
God loves you!
Mike
*Scientific information from National Geographic, Feb 2001;
storiesforpreaching.com
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