Bugs, bugs, bugs. Bugs everywhere. In the air, on the trees, under the leaves, and even in some homes. Funny looking flying creatures, generally with red eyes, but at least one rare, wee, squealing nuisance was found with blue peepers at the arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.
News headlines announced their arrival after life in the ground for thirteen years, and others for seventeen. I guess I would also be ready for a little vacation in Land of Lincoln. The 13-year Brood XIX is the largest of all periodical cicada broods. 17-year Brood XIII joins them in 2024, thus making for even more magnificent cicada choruses. Apparently, they are the ‘loudest’ bug in the world. This duo team appearance is the first time since 2015.
Generally, the two teams will each arrive in different parts of the country, but the greater likelihood of contact between the two broods is a very special place for me — Springfield, IL. In fact, this is such a special spot that National Geographic plans a visit to our town to record this rare event. I guess we are now famous for both Abe Lincoln and cicada.
As I thought about the media’s prediction for several months of their arrival, my mind darted to the promise in Isaiah 7:14 of another special arrival. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah expands on that prophecy in 9:6-7. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Our cicada spend only a tiny portion of their life span above ground for humans to see and hear. Our Lord also spent only a tiny moment of His life for humans to see and hear. His arrival, as a child of Mary, His mother, was announced, not by the media but by the angels. He lived a rather quiet life until reaching the age of about thirty. He then became more public, as He gathered His team around Him, and preached to all about the message from His Father. He too died and was buried. Then, contrary to our bugs who died, were swept up, and even sometimes burned by angry humans, Jesus returned to life and ultimately to heaven to be with His Father.
Amazingly, however, the deceased bug parents will leave behind an estimated 500 trillion eggs, which in turn will hatch and immediately retreat to their home in the ground and to sucking juice from the roots of the trees for survival.
We, as followers of Christ, are commanded to spread the Word and bring others into the family of God. These new babes in Christ will then take our place in the world, thus extending the life cycle of the Christian family. As we read and study His Word, the Bible, we will be spiritually fed. John 6:35 shares the words of Jesus, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
I am delighted, however, that I am NOT a cicada, for a future life with God is exceedingly more exciting than a bug burial in dark mud drinking root juice.
Join Me, As Together We Eagerly Await Our Relocation With Christ
Kathryn Ransom 