LIGHTNING BUGS

At a recent visit to Lake Ontario I was mesmerized in the dark of night watching the numerous fireflies, better known as lightning bugs, flashing their lights everywhere. What a beautiful sight it was to see amidst the plentiful stars too.

 

Here are a few interesting facts about lightning bugs:

 

*They are neither a bug nor a fly; they are a type of beetle.

*They go through a complete metamorphosis from egg, larva (the longest time period), pupa, and adult.

*Not all species of lightning bugs light up as adults, but they all glow during the larva stage, and some even glow as eggs.

*They use their light to “talk” to each other and to find a mate.

*They have three special substances (luciferin, luciferase, and ATP) that, as they breathe in different amounts of oxygen, regulate the flash they produce.

 

A lightning bug – Photo courtesy of Cattails under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

*Each species has its own unique flashing pattern.

*The males fly around, while most females do not–they stay closer to the ground.

*When the male wants to choose a female to mate with, he flies near the ground, flashing his light every six seconds. If they are from the same species, she answers by turning on her light.

*Large groups of lightning bugs sometimes blink in unison.

*Their lifespan is about two months.

 

Fireflies and Star Trails No. 1 – Photo courtesy of Mike Lewinski under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)

 

 

Four things we can learn from lightning bugs:

 

Continually be transformed.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  –Romans 12:2  (NLT)

Just as the lightning bugs go through different stages of growing and transforming, so do we in our lives and faith. With God leading us, we can change the thought patterns that hold us back from seeing ourselves as He does. By studying the Word, we learn about God and what pleases Him.

 

Light up your part of the world everywhere you go.

“Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”  –Matthew 5:14-16  (TPT)

Just as the lightning bugs flash their lights every six seconds in the darkness, so should our lives be continually flashing to light up this dark world. God in us can shine forth continually. As we do, people will come to know God’s goodness that is all around us. 

 

 

Fly to new heights as you dance in freedom with Jesus.

Then he broke through and transformed all my wailing into a whirling dance of ecstatic praise! He has torn the veil and lifted from me the sad heaviness of mourning. He wrapped me in the glory-garments of gladness.  –Psalm 30:11  (TPT)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  –2 Corinthians 3:17-18  (NIV)

Seeing the lightning bugs fly all around and seeing their lights flashing on and off reminded me of the freedom we have with the Spirit. In the Spirit, we see God’s glory as our lives are continually transformed to be more like Him. We should be dancing with praise for what Jesus has done for us.

 

Keep hope alive.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  –Isaiah 40:31  (NIV)

Witnessing the beauty of the lights in the darkness brought a sense of hope and peace. As we stay close to the Lord, we remain steadfast in hope. There is beauty in knowing our power and strength is in the Lord and that we soar like the eagles with confidence.

 

Be encouraged this week to…

… allow God and the Word to transform you.

… keep lighting up your part of the world.

… claim the freedom you have.

… dance in joy with the Lord.

… remain steadfast in hope.

 

REFLECTION:

Which of the four reminders do you need to live out better?
How has your life been transformed?

 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  –John 8:12  (NIV)