The kids have been hunting cicada shells this week. They are not hard to find!
I did a little research for this post and found that this exoskeleton of the cicada is from the nymph stage. They actually live underground, emerge, select a plant, and then molt a final time. This begins their adult life as a flying adult cicada. The kids actually watched an adult cicada in our garage and listened to his music. Here are some pictures of their collection of exoskeletons or shells as we call them.
As a preacher, I am always looking and thinking about illustrations. As parents, we are always trying to teach our kids. So I could not resist drawing some lessons from this activtiy . I wanted to share it with you as well! You get the longer version, but hey, I think most of you are a little older!
Lessons from the Cicada Shells
- This is a great illustration of transformation and change. Just like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly, so this transformation from a nymph to a flying insect is incredible. You can certainly tell the difference. You know there has been a CHANGE! So it should be for us as Christians. We are different. When we put on Christ in baptism we are changed (Gal. 3:26-27, 1 Peter 3:21, etc). One of the big problems with the church today is the lack of distinction from the world. Often there is not even a difference from our former lives. We must be transformed (Rom. 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 5:16-17).
- This is a great illustration of our physical bodies. Landon, our 4 year old, was afraid the shells would escape. We explained to him that the insect had flown away and left this outward skin behind. That is the same concept I try to explain at funerals and in many sermons. We are a soul with a body. We are not a body with a soul. Our primary life is in our spirit and soul. Our body is the outward tent. It is a shell that gets old, has aches, pains, and wears out. We will one day leave it behind and go to be with Jesus (Phil. 1:20-23, 2 Cor. 5:6-7). Peter speaks of soon “putting off” his body (2 Peter 1:14), and Paul talks about how we groan in this earthly tent and long to put it off and be clothed with the “heavenly dwelling” (2 Cor. 5:1-5).
So when you see the cicada shells stuck to your trees, remember these lessons. If you have children or grandchildren use it as an opportunity to teach a fundamental and important Bible lesson.
