A SILKWORM’S LESSON

Illustrated above is the transformation of a Chinese silkworm, Bombyx mori, into a moth or into a finished product—fabric. In its state as a caterpillar, this insect creates within its body a beautiful fiber which we call silk. This fiber is extruded as a filament through a tiny tube in its head called a spinneret. As the caterpillar throws this self-made filament around its body in a figure-eight motion with its head, a cocoon is created around the silkworm. The spinning continues until the insect has completely encased itself with this beautiful fiber. During this process, the silkworm is being transformed into a moth with wings. Once the cocoon is complete, the moth secretes a brown liquid enzyme which softens the cocoon, enabling the moth to push through the end of the cocoon to freedom outside its encasement.

The silkworm encases itself with silk filament while its wings and body morph; but death, unbeknown to the worm, is lurking around the corner.

However, if permitted to emerge from the chrysalis, the moth, by cutting through the end of the cocoon, would damage the continuous silk filament making it unusable for making silk cloth. To prevent the moth from cutting through the end of the cocoon, man kills it by placing it in boiling water or by a freezing process. He then discards the “creator,” (the silkworm), unwinds the unbroken silk filament, and weaves silk fabric from the silkworm’s life-time work.

HAVE YOU WRAPPED YOURSELF IN
SELF-DESTRUCTION: SIN?

The illustration above is given as a type of parable—to make us think about the “wages of sin” and the “end” of our life-time efforts upon this earth. First, consider the effect of two or three strands of silk thread. If you would wrap these around your body,  you could easily snap the thread and be freed from its bondage. However, if a whole spool of thread were wrapped around your body, it would be impossible for you to break free because of the increased strength of multiple strands of fiber.

Consider the caterpillar who, day after day, spins a cocoon around his body “thinking” that one day he will escape from this encasement and fly away to freedom. However, that doesn’t happen. Controlled by man’s purpose—to make cloth, the caterpillar is carefully fed and nurtured until he finishes spinning his cocoon. At maturity, the silkworm is destroyed, and his life’s work is utilized for man’s profit.

Sin, like silk filament, is wrapped around the body little by little, creating an unforeseen chamber of death.

Like the filament which the caterpillar wraps around his body, humans wrap themselves with self-created sin, “thread by thread,” with what they feel are insignificant sins. They often continue to prosper in various aspects of life not realizing they are on their way to eternal destruction (Hell). These trespasses could begin with any of the following:

• Rewriting/misapplying God’s Word;
• Becoming too busy with daily activities to study the Bible each day (putting careers and personal priorities above serving God);
• Unforgiveness
• Those little white lies we tell, including not keeping our word (saying we will do something at a particular time and not doing it; that is telling a lie);
• A Christian dating someone not saved;
• Losing ones’ temper—out of control words and actions;
• Viewing movies and TV programs with sexual scenes and ungodly language;
• Swearing;
• Divorcing a one-flesh mate and “marrying” (under civil law) another person;
• Cheating on one’s taxes.

SIN WRAPS ITSELF AROUND OUR SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY

When we daily practice what we consider are “little” transgressions, they often become life-style patterns. As they become multiple threads wrapped around our spirit, soul and body, we no longer think of them as sins. Thus, deception sets in and blinds us to being able to receive Truth in those areas of our lives because we have chosen to reject God. This self-made deception is what God calls hardening of the heart. He warns us to beware of such: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13) God warns that IF we reject what He has recorded in His Holy Scriptures, HE will send a strong delusion, and we no longer will discern truth. We will be turned over to a reprobate mind; i.e., to live in those sins from which we refuse to repent.

Consider the following Scriptures and the frightening effects upon those who choose to deny  the importance of being “perfect,” even in what many consider the seemingly little issues of life:

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (II Thessalonians 2:10-12)

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness … ; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them; And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [sinful]; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Back-biters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:18-32)

This is how many people become “encased” by the threads of sin (in the bond of iniquity) from which many fail to escape. This bondage is linked to the common deception of those who think they will always have time to repent, to get right with God, to learn Who He is, to spend time with Him. They, however, do not understand the power of deception and that sin has no limits: “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” (Proverbs 27:20)

Sin is never a singular issue. The bondage is not only to the original sin, but to many other accompanying ones: the sly foxes and venomous snakes which lure innocent sheep into eternal destruction: “… and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” (II Peter 2:12) In taking lightly what God says is sin, many lose sight of the end result of hardened hearts (sin): “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

LUST OVERCOMES WISDOM!

Many get to the end of life and have a bank account large enough to care for their needs, plaques on the walls, trophies on the shelf, degrees and many personal possessions. However, the book of Ecclesiastes succinctly begins and ends with Truth from a man, Solomon, whom God gifted with more wisdom than any known person during Solomon’s lifetime. Not only did he have wisdom, but he also had incredible, lavish riches and possessions.

However, Solomon let his lust for women turn his heart away from God. He was unable to follow the wisdom which God gave him to record even for us today. This is because King Solomon, out of rebellion to God, chose the pathway of sin and thus brought upon himself the result—a reprobate mind. He became ensnared in sin through the practice of actions God abhors. He opened his mind to the STRONG DELUSION that comes when anyone continually rejects God’s Word.

Sexual sin is one of many sins that catches many, even seemingly strong, Christians. Sexual sin, like several other sins, is never satisfied—a picture of which is given of this man, Solomon. This kind became obsessed a with sexual addiction (and many other lustful sins): “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart …” (l Kings 11:3)

As Solomon, caught in his web of sin, wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? … Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2,3; 12:13,14) Sadly, Solomon wrote many words of wisdom but did not follow them.

BEWARE: ALL SIN MUST BE TURNED FROM IMMEDIATELY; IT CAN ENCASE EVEN THE MOST RIGHTEOUS

That’s why we must make every effort to repent of every sinful act—so that we will not harden our hearts against the Word of God and forsake eternal life. We must pray that God “… peradventure will give them [us] repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they [we] may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (II Timothy 2:25,26) “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. … We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (I John 4:4-6)

THERE’S PURPOSE IN LIFE’S STRUGGLES, DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND CRISES!

You may be thinking, “If God is greater than the power of Satan, why am I struggling so much; why does it seem like my whole world has crumbled?” First of all, we have to choose God’s way in ALL things, no matter how difficult the situation seems. Struggles are exactly what we need in our lives to bring us to the perfection God desires within us—to have us reach out to Him in ways we never would if everything in life were perfect and especially if the “Lesson Plan of Life” were written and directed by us.

If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. When we’re going through heartaches, physical disabilities, financial struggles, the loss of a loved one, or a divorce, it’s often difficult to understand how such could work for our good. But, it’s impossible for God to lie. He tells us (as recorded in His Book, the Holy Bible) that ALL things work for good IF our lives are ordered according to His purpose (will). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Don’t miss the test for those who love God: “If ye love me, keep my commandments: (John 14:15)

HOW GOD MAKES US STRONG–TO HANDLE THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE

Have you noticed that when you asked for strength, difficulties came into your life? Why? Because this is how God makes us strong. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness …” (II Corinthians 12:9) We want out of the situation; He wants to carry us through it!

When you asked for wisdom, did you recognize God teaching you wisdom by giving you problems to solve? When you asked for prosperity, you may be given opportunities to use your mind and body—to work to earn the resources needed to sustain yourself. Maybe you have even prayed for courage, but haven’t noticed that obstacles were in your life for you to overcome to develop your courage. When you desire love and compassion, you may, instead, find troubled people on your doorstep to whom you can minister.

WHAT IT TAKES TO PERFECT US

When godly responses are made to the issues of life—often packaged as crises—we may find that perhaps we received nothing we wanted, BUT … received everything we really needed! God sees beyond our narrow vision of life. If you are being tried, focus not on your circumstances, but on Truth as given in the Bible: “… and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” [because this is what it often takes to perfect us and to reach others for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ]. (Acts 14:22)

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” (Romans 5:3,4)

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (II Corinthians 1:3,4)

GRASP THE SECRET OF OVERCOMING YOUR TRIALS!

Do you know why a football never gets deflated in a game? Twenty-two huge, burly men kick it, throw it, pounce on it, fumble it—yet it never gets “squashed” or loses its size to deflation. The answer is a simple law of physics. It seems that the internal pressure of the ball is much greater than all the pressure 22 men can place upon it externally.

First John 4:4 says the same thing about Christians: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” The power of the Holy Spirit residing in our hearts and lives is greater than all the pressure the external world can place upon us.

You could list all the different opponents that come against you to impede or block your forward progress. Satan’s strategy is to deflate you and render you inoperative, but the Holy Ghost gives you a buoyancy. You can roll with the punches. It may seem sometimes that you are being tossed around by circumstances, but with the LORD’s power within, you will always bounce back.

The following verse can be a great comfort to many people who are having serious crises in their lives. “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (l John 4:4) It is a constant reminder of God’s sustaining grace, Jesus Christ’s resident peace, and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power. Greater is the power within us than the pressure upon us. So hang in there, teammate, despite the hard hits, we’re (you’re) winning!

Be sure to write us if we can pray with you or clarify Scriptures for you.