Pastor’s Corner: “Butterfly Effect”
Zecahariah 4:10 (NLT) – Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…
Have you heard about the butterfly effect? In physics, it describes how tiny changes in initial conditions (such as the flap of a butterfly’s wings) can affect weather thousands of miles away. Imagine-a fragile butterfly can alter weather patterns on another continent! Had it not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the weather system might have been vastly different. Simply put: Small things can have a big impact. That is the underlying premise of the butterfly effect, the idea that something big often has the smallest and humblest origins. Like Jesus, who was born in a stinky stable to an unimportant carpenter and a teenage girl. His birth goes virtually unnoticed with the exception of a few lowly Shepherds and three foreigners from a faraway land. Yet, as scripture reveals: Philippians 2:9-11(NLT) – 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. No one is going to miss Jesus. Jesus the most powerful and influential person in history came from the humblest of beginnings.
Zecahariah 4:10 (NLT) – Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Imagine the temple lying in ruins, and having to be rebuilt from the ground up. That’s what things were like when Zechariah shared his vision with the people of Israel. Some thought it couldn’t be done, and others thought that their particular contribution would make no difference. So Zechariah challenged them to start the work. They would change their mind when they saw Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!” Zechariah 4:7 (NLT) – 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”
What can we learn from this? You may feel insignificant at times, as fragile as the butterfly. It may seem like you’re just flapping your wings when you are standing alone for truth and honesty in the workplace or the home. You say, “What can I do in the face of a problem this big?” More than you think! Your faith, your words, your deeds, your prayers, your example, your kindness and persistence can release the power of God and activate the forces of Heaven to go to work in that situation. Begin. Just begin! What seems small to you might be huge to someone else.
1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV) – 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God loves to use things that we consider to be insignificant. Like Moses’ rod which parted the Red Sea, or David’s slingshot that brought down a giant, or a boy’s lunch that fed a multitude. Your flapping wings can initiate changes that will influence lives around you for all eternity. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 (NKJV) – “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
In our culture we are taught to swing for the fences. Blast the game-winning home run high over the center field wall. The focus being instant gratification and recognition. But a life lived in obedience to God is seldom like that. It’s much more like the butterfly effect—where one small change can make a big difference in the way things turn out. It’s not about the size of the seed you sow, but about the God Who can make it grow! It’s not about the prayer you pray but about the greatness of One Who answers prayer!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton