The Truth about Love Bugs
March 24, 2016
John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him,
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
In South Alabama, throughout Florida and all along the Gulf Coast, Spring, usually in April and May, brings with it a strange insect manifestation. These bugs are called love bugs because you usually find two of them together. They appear in clouds by the millions. I always believed the story that these bugs were an experiment done at the University of Florida that went awry. The insects were created by DNA manipulation to create a bug that could control mosquito populations. They escaped during hurricane Andrew and now they have no natural predators to control them. I heard this story from what I thought was a reliable source, an exterminator. As it turns out, this story is not true. Love bugs, also called honeymoon flies, kissing bugs and double-headed bugs, are native to Central America. They migrated here, and now they range throughout the Gulf States and as far north as Georgia and South Carolina. Finding out the truth about these bugs reminded me of the importance of our knowing the truth and sharing the truth about God and salvation. Many believe that God is just out there waiting to zap them when they step out of line, but we know our God is loving and merciful. Many believe that they can be saved by going to church, reading their Bible and being good, but we know that we saved by grace through faith. Are you seeking after the truth? Are you sharing the truth about our loving God and the salvation He offers to all? The truth will always set us free!
Neil Epler, Congregational Care Pastor
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
In South Alabama, throughout Florida and all along the Gulf Coast, Spring, usually in April and May, brings with it a strange insect manifestation. These bugs are called love bugs because you usually find two of them together. They appear in clouds by the millions. I always believed the story that these bugs were an experiment done at the University of Florida that went awry. The insects were created by DNA manipulation to create a bug that could control mosquito populations. They escaped during hurricane Andrew and now they have no natural predators to control them. I heard this story from what I thought was a reliable source, an exterminator. As it turns out, this story is not true. Love bugs, also called honeymoon flies, kissing bugs and double-headed bugs, are native to Central America. They migrated here, and now they range throughout the Gulf States and as far north as Georgia and South Carolina. Finding out the truth about these bugs reminded me of the importance of our knowing the truth and sharing the truth about God and salvation. Many believe that God is just out there waiting to zap them when they step out of line, but we know our God is loving and merciful. Many believe that they can be saved by going to church, reading their Bible and being good, but we know that we saved by grace through faith. Are you seeking after the truth? Are you sharing the truth about our loving God and the salvation He offers to all? The truth will always set us free!
Neil Epler, Congregational Care Pastor