Caterpillar Christians

One Sabbath at church I was walking out of the church kitchen to go get something. As I was walking, I glanced down at the ground and saw a fuzzy green caterpillar inching along.

Oh look, a caterpillar, I thought absently. How cute!

As I continued walking, this thought came to me.

I wonder if that little caterpillar ever feels discouraged over how slow he is. I wonder if he wishes he was more fast like a cheetah or an ostrich. I wonder if he thinks about how small he is, and wishes he was more big and tall as a giraffe or maybe even a human being. I wonder if that caterpillar has negative thoughts about how slow and small he is.

A Major Lesson

It’s pretty obvious that the caterpillar doesn’t have such thoughts.

In fact, based on my own observations, the caterpillar seemed to be more focused on going to wherever he wanted to go.

It’s doubtful that thoughts of how slow and small he is ever crossed that caterpillar’s mind. But, even if such thoughts did come along, that didn’t stop him from continuously moving forward to his destination.

And the same concept applies to us as Christians.

Keep Crawling Forward

As Christians, we may find ourselves feeling like we’re not “running” as fast in our Christian journey as we want to.

We may feel like that caterpillar–just inching along on the road to Heaven. The spiritual progress we wish to experience isn’t happening as fast as we want it to be.

But friend, I wanna direct your attention to Paul’s words in Philippians chapter 3:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

(PHILIPPIANS 3:13, emphasis added)

The words “reaching forward” in the above verse comes from the Greek word epekteinomai (ἐπεκτείνομαι), and it means “to stretch out to or towards; to stretch (one’s self) forward to.”

How does this all apply to the caterpillar story I just told? And, how does this all apply to us as Christians in our personal lives?

Even If We’re Slow…

For awhile, whenever I read Philippians 3:13, I always had this picture in my mind of someone running toward Heaven, their hand stretching out to obtain the Heavenly Reward ahead.

But now, as I dig deeper into this verse in light of this whole caterpillar lesson, a realization struck me.

While it’s true that our lives as Christians are like a race (1 Corinthians 9:24), but this race we’re in doesn’t have any competition tied to it. Instead, the whole point of this Christian “race” isn’t to try to be the first person to “win.” Rather, the whole point–the whole focus–of the Christian life is to keep moving forward.

Whether you’re running.
Whether you’re walking.
Whether you’re crawling like a caterpillar.

How you’re moving in this Christian race doesn’t matter. What matters is that you CONTINUALLY go forward in your faith journey with God.

Even if you’re simply inching along, that’s fine!

The focus is to simply keep going forward.

A Prayer

Dear reader, are you discouraged over how “slow” you feel as a Christian in your spiritual life?

Don’t be discouraged! Keep moving forward!

Even if you’re just inching along, that’s okay!

Why?

Because slow progress is better than no progress.

Friend, do you want God to help you stay progressive in your spiritual journey as a Christian–no matter how slow it may be?

If so, just pray the following prayer below:

I’d like to conclude this blog post with several encouraging Bible verses you may meditate on along with the above prayer.

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:2)

The Lord upholds all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

(Psalm 145:14)

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

(Isaiah 40:29)

Amen! Maranatha!