The Empty Cocoon
THE EMPTY COCOON
Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 40, 42-44.
“What’s that?” cried Lisa when her brother showed her a pale green object dangling from a branch.
“Isn’t it cool?” replied Nick. “It’s called a chrysalis, and there’s a caterpillar inside. Or at least, he used to be a caterpillar.”
Lisa frowned. “I don’t like caterpillars.” As she went into the house, she saw her mother wiping tears from her eyes. “What’s the matter?” Lisa asked.
“I just got a phone call,” Mom said softly. “Grandma Carter died.”
“Oh no!” wailed Lisa. “I don’t want her to die!”
“I know, honey, but Grandma is happy now. She’s in heaven.”
Lisa and Nick were a little nervous when they went to the funeral home and walked up to the casket where Grandma lay. “She looks like she’s asleep,” said Lisa.
The next day, they attended the funeral, and after the service, they all went to the cemetery where Grandma was to be buried.
Lisa was quiet as they sat on the patio that evening. “I thought Grandma was in heaven, but they put her in the ground,” she said at last. As she spoke, Nick came over, carrying the branch with the chrysalis dangling from it. He held it up.
“The caterpillar spun a chrysalis around itself. After a while, it burst open and a butterfly came out,” Mom said.
“I love butterflies!” said Lisa. “They’re prettier than caterpillars.”
“That’s like what has happened to Grandma Carter,” said Dad. “She has left her old shell—her earthly body—and now it’s like an empty chrysalis. The real Grandma has gone to be with Jesus.” He smiled. “God will give her a beautiful new body, too.”
Just then a butterfly fluttered past Lisa’s nose. “Look!” she squealed. “A caterpillar in its new body.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Has someone you love died and gone to heaven? The Bible teaches that those who love the Lord go to be with Him when they die. Though their bodies were buried, they’re not in them anymore. God will give them wonderful new bodies someday.
TO MEMORIZE:
Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:43
CHRISTIANS WILL HAVE NEW BODIES.
From the book
