Black Butterflies

We passed this on our way to go to the show and I had to stop and take a picture. From a distance, I saw the shape of the butterfly but it was dark. As I got closer I saw how intriguing this display really was. As dark as it was…they were butterflies intertwined, with all their wings stretched out. Worthy of capturing.

Wikipedia states that black is the darkest color, the result of the absence of or complete absorption of light. It is the opposite of white (the combined spectrum of color or light). It is an achromatic color, literally a color without color or hue. It is one of the four primary colors in the CMYK color model, along with cyan, yellow, and magenta, used in color printing to produce all the other colors. [WOW]

Black was one of the first colors used by artists in neolithic cave paintings. In the 14th century, it began to be worn by royalty, the clergy, judges and government officials in much of Europe. It became the color worn by English romantic poets, businessmen and statesmen in the 19th century, and a high fashion color in the 20th century.

Now black makes a statement!

It is the absence of light, yet we know that it must exist in order for light to be present [Isaiah 60]!

God is the Lord, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
Psalm 118:27 New King James Version

The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
Psalm 118:27 New International Version

We are people made of dust. Off the ground. In a dark place we had come to the light. God breathed into the man and gave us life. Darkness had to be present. Then light overpowered.

Sometimes we go through the darkest places in life but we never lose our shape. We become those black butterflies that are so intertwined. They are all very beautiful…even though they are black. Color becomes irrelevant. Past is removed. Concept is discovered. Depth is understood. For why is everything so contrary. Why such a fight against the light. Two fights… the dark against the light. At all times, that is present.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, but has not given me over to death.
Psalm 118:17-18

They enemy is chasing us down in such a way. The struggle is present. For the battle is written out in the Word for us to take heed and exceed! We can win the war. The Lord is our support and consistently showing us the way because THERE IS A WAY!!

The writer continues to express his constant battle. There is written a way…

All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:10-14

He wrote in the name of the Lord I WILL destroy them. He could declare that. With God on his side he had the ability, authority, strength and power to resist and destroy his enemies!!!

He was that man… that lived in the supernatural and came to the natural. He had tremendous victories on Sunday and then had to go to work on Monday. He had to fight off his enemies and push past his weekly challenges. He wanted to conquer his Monday! He wanted the victory everyday of his life… not just at a worship service! HIS BATTLES WERE SCARY AND INTENSE! It seemed never-ending and unyielding. He waged war! In EVERY aspect.

Now he didn’t speak of a dark place but a forgotten place. A place that seemed hidden from all the rest. This part was not on display and not public. Beyond the lights, smiles, serving, singing or preaching. The prophecy is deep. The high calling is the utmost. But simultaneously with that is the Monday- it is everything contrary to that spoken word. It opposes the word, challenges and comes against that promise.

This walk has nothing to do with feelings BUT THEY ARE PRESENT! Emotions are alive. A way of escape is sought. For our mind can quickly conjure up accessible ways to react but that is not correct, it is corrupt! Why is the worthless so worthwhile? Why is the meaningless so meaningful? Why is the insignificant so significant? The futile so fruitful? The cheap so costly? The empty so full? The ineffective so effective? WHY?

Darkness had to be present. In that definition above, the darkest color was used to produce the REST! It was used for the others to be seen. It became the predominant color. It became prestigious. It became the color worn to make a statement for high governing officials. It became a color worn for great significance and to display authority! This dark color is worn in the light. The darkness was only present so that you can see the truth. This testimony is amazing! It is saying that no matter how dark it got…it was still beautiful. I didn’t die from it…but I lived!

God kept me alive.

God’s purpose SHALL BE FULFILLED.

All the black butterflies will be so bold and beautiful. They won’t be forgotten. They will be seen. They will matter. They will shine. They will radiate. They will be so powerful in every way!

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.
Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness. Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—
Your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances. So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
Psalm 119:33-50

Writings from black butterflies… who trusted in this word.