Metaphors of Resurrection
In nature, Metaphors of Resurrection point to rebirth, transformation, and afterlife, ultimately pointing to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. One of the most miraculous is the transformation of the humble caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. The little creature chooses to take its own life, encasing itself in a cocoon. The tiny body becomes a corpse and completely dissolves, becoming a chrysalis. This chrysalis becomes the butterfly, then the new creature must break out of its cocoon. During this process of breaking and stretching, the butterfly struggles to make its wings strong to fly. This process is a miracle. It is purposeful, as metamorphosis does not conserve energy. God has built this beautiful process into nature to teach us many things, but the most important is about the Resurrection of Christ and eternal life.
Metaphors of Resurrection
There are Metaphors of Resurrection if we don't just look, but see
Viewing nature through God's lens is the key
Butterflies arising from an encased tomb
Breaking free to flutter from their dark room
A vanishing Houdini, a Chrysalis makes
This lost death God does not forsake
Rebirth to a new life, now transformed
Cloaked in beauty all fanciful and adorned
Crawling creature now born to be free
Flying and soaring so high, just to be
No reason, no rhyme, this does not make sense
God has His purpose; He does not once wince
Little tadpole, a swimming aquatic, darting in a pool
Then legs you grow, now on the ground you rule
Terrestrial amphibian those whinges you emote
Once ago in silence, your voice was remote
You grow and change before our eyes
Surely God must have some reason why
Water bugs living down under with no air
Then it is translucent wings you don and wear
Dragonflies take to your aerial flight
Only to live and breathe for a brief fortnight
An ethereal creation such complexity, it insists
Resurrection metaphors do in nature exist
Dubious death and changed forms
Are actually creation's way and the norm
In metamorphosis God does teach
Saying there can be many images for each
The old form dies and is then lost
With rebirth there is always a cost
Life goes on living in a new state
It means eternal life will be our future fate
All these types and symbols point to Easter Day
When Jesus, our Savior, came to show us the Way
Death He conquered from which He rose
To save our lives, His fate He chose
God has sent a message that is clear to read
But He leaves it for us to decide, to take heed
Be present to each moment surrounding us
Marking and noting each clue, we must
For man, God has made it so plain
All Heaven and earth are His eternal reign
God has shown us; He wants to be fair
These metaphor gifts are because of His care
So when we see clearly and do not ere
Then God's Metaphors of Resurrection can be found everywhere....
-Dr. Rhonda Milner
"Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
Romans 1:19-20 NIV
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
Listen to Dr. Rhonda read "Metaphors of Resurrection"