Matthew 8:8 “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.” NIV

1 Cor 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” NIV

Three years ago we were invaded by a new sort of insect from Asia. We already had our own variety of this beautiful and useful creature, one which we call the “Ladybug”, and in my mind, we didn’t need a new one! Especially since this new variety, though it may also be useful, is also aggressive, and when crossed, they think nothing of drawing a little blood from the hapless human unfortunate enough to be in their pathway.

The arrival of these Asian bugs reminded me of the description of the plague of frogs in Egypt, 4000 years ago. They came in droves, and it wasn’t unusual to see them completely covering the outside walls of homes. They must have had an adversity to cold because when the winter moved in, so did they, and then we found them everywhere we looked in the house as well. They were in the bread, in pop cans, in the light fixtures, sitting on the walls, huddling in corners, literally everywhere.

Although that was the only year they actually swarmed our area, their presence is still being felt. It seems that they are quite prolific, and the conditions in our houses are ideal for their special breeding needs, for now, three years later, we are still finding them all over the house every winter. Once spring rolls around however, they are no longer content to be IN the house. They want OUT! And this time they decorate the inside of the windows in their search for escape.

Most people call it war. They step on them. They drown them in sinks. They flush them down toilets and squish them against the walls and windows. They trap them between screens and windows, leaving them to die. But no matter what the technique, or how persistent the exterminator, these little buggers continue to thrive.

At our home, we undertake a non-violent approach to this problem. Instead of exterminating them, we capture them.

“Ah hah!” You might think. “You plan to torture them.”

Not at all. We encourage them to tumble from the wall (or light or ceiling or wherever we find them!) Into a little thimble. Once we have them momentarily confined, we open a window and let them go. Neighbors think we escaped from the loony bin; but amazingly, none of us have been bitten. I guess the word is out that we are not their enemies, that we want their freedom even MORE than they do! Although undeserved, the grace shown these little buggers is beneficial to both sides. They get their freedom; we don’t get bitten.

The same is true concerning the little buggers called humans. Our sin-filled lives have caused us to become a real nuisance to everyone around us. Our selfishness estranges us from God and from each other. Unforgiveness reigns in our midst. Families are destroyed by selfish ambitions and disunited through divorce. No safe haven can be found on our planet, for any one of us can be zapped at any time by the disastrous consequences of the selfishness and vices of others.

Although we are so undesirable, God looks down at us with compassion and love. Although we are filled with arrogance and pride, He planned something that looked like foolishness to anyone else. He planned to die the death we deserve. WE are the ones who deserve to be squeezed to death against windows and walls or flushed down toilets. WE are the nuisance. But not to God. He died in our place so that we could go free. His death not only reconciled us with Him, but brought us freedom from addictions and hurtful habits. No longer do we have to be afraid of being “squished” for our sin. Instead, He invites us to let Him dwell in our hearts, to enjoy a relationship beyond of this world, a friendship that brings joy, inner peace and love. No longer would we have to suffer solitude. God wants to be with us forever. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

The choice is ours, though. We can continue to live as if God never sacrificed Himself for us. We can continue to war against Him and others. We can continue to think that “being squished isn’t all that bad”. Freedom can only be truly ours if we accept His offer and start to develop this “out of this world” relationship.

A ladybug! Should it be squished or set free? The choice is yours.

Rob Chaffart