Glory from the Ground Up

Today I caught such a sweet glimpse of God revealing His glory in the beauty of His creation. I walked outside the doors of my church and spotted one of the most exquisite creatures I’ve ever seen. It was a giant moth. Now, I don’t normally find moths of any sort very attractive, but this one was an exception. My son and I stopped to look at it and we were awed by the glorious display of its wings moving to avoid our touch. Its wings were a vibrant green, about 3-4 inches across and had two sets of brown eye spots at the top. At the bottom was a billowing tail that looked delicate, almost like ribbons on the end of a kite. Its body was white and furry, with feathery antennae. I was enthralled. Some friends came out to see the moth with us and one said, Oh, that’s a Luna Moth. ​

Having never heard of Luna Moths before, I had to find out more.

"​He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

A quick Google search gave me five intriguing facts about Luna Moths:

1. In the caterpillar stage, they eat voraciously for a month (think Very Hungry Caterpillar style).
2. They only live for about 7-10 days.
3. Adults have no mouth or digestive system, therefore they cannot eat and only live off of food consumed as a caterpillar.
4. The sole purpose of the moth is to reproduce.
5. The female will lay hundreds of eggs, and then her life will be over.

As I walked to my car, my mind swirled with spiritual questions and truths related to the sight of this unusual product of God’s handiwork. For instance, why would God create something so intensely beautiful, but only allow it to remain alive for such a short time? God brought to my mind Ecclesiastes 3:11, which says,

God’s timetable isn’t defined by mine. In His timetable depth of beauty doesn’t rely on length of life. One short life can certainly bring immense glory to God.

​I was also curious about the purpose these moths have in nature. The only reason for their existence I could find is they live to reproduce. So, in essence, life is their purpose! What a beautiful reflection of the Creator of life! Psalm 36:9 says, ​

“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

I wanted to know about the eye spots that so beautifully adorn the wings. I found they are meant to camouflage the moth and confuse a predator. God equipped these creatures with everything needed to survive their lifespan, even though their lifespan is incredibly short. That speaks to me of God’s desire to protect life. Over and over in the Bible, we’re given the picture of God as our Protector. Psalm 139 sings of His protection over us. Verse 2 speaks of how God knows and understands us. ​

“You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off” (Psalm 139:2).

Verse 5 shows us His protective hand.

“You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5).

When I stop and meditate on all God does for His creation, to protect, shelter and nurture, I can say with David, ​

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6).

I think it’s this reality that brought so many questions to my mind when I encountered the Luna Moth today. God’s knowledge of His creation, His way with the things of the world He made, is too lofty for me. That truth brings me comfort because He is not a God I can figure out and place in a box on a shelf, only to be brought down when I need something. He is the sovereign God, concerned with the vastness of the universe and the life of a little moth. He is the sovereign God concerned with all of creation and the life of little me and little you. Wow! I don’t know where you are today or how you may be struggling; but I do know one thing. If God cares enough to give a moth life, beauty, and protection, He cares about the everyday details of your life. You can trust Him with whatever may be concerning you today.

As a matter of fact, this morning before I left my house, I was thinking about how through Jesus we have a sweet friendship with God the Father. He wants us to know Him and His great love. I know the primary way God reveals Himself to us is through His Word. But, He also reveals Himself to us through the wonders of His creation.

​I remembered Romans 1:20, which says,

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). ​

This idea was still in my mind as I came upon the Luna Moth on the ground. It was as if God was showing me His love by stopping me in my tracks and allowing me to see something special from His hand.

While I was hesitant to write a whole blogpost about a moth, my hope for you is that it sparks a new desire to see what God is revealing about Himself through His creation today. Take some time to stop and look around. Mark the wonder that you find. This world is full of man-made hustle. What if you stepped out of it for a moment and stepped into the hush of His stillness? I promise you’ll be amazed at what He has to show you there.

I love where Stephanie writes: "He is the sovereign God, concerned with the vastness of the universe and the life of a little moth. He is the sovereign God concerned with all of creation and the life of little me and little you. Wow! I don’t know where you are today or how you may be struggling; but I do know one thing. If God cares enough to give a moth life, beauty, and protection, He cares about the everyday details of your life. You can trust Him with whatever may be concerning you today." Isn't it the truth?!