The process of how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly continues to fascinate many of us.
As we know from our school science lessons, that process is known as metamorphosis, where a complete transformation occurs from one ‘life’ to another.
The picture of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly is a good description of the spiritual change that happens to someone who puts their faith in Jesus.
A transformation occurs so that person now has a new life. So complete is this transformation that Jesus speaks of being “born again” in John 3:3.
This new “born again” life changes our entire perspective.
Instead of worrying about the concerns of the world which will not last, we can focus on matters of eternal significance - the very things God is concerned about.
How we love, how we show grace and forgiveness, how generous we are with our time and money, how we speak to others, will all be motivated by the new life we now have in Christ.
This means we are now focused doing what pleases God instead of living in rebellion against him.
We now choose (willingly and with a sense of joy) to live radically differently from our old way of living.
The apostle Paul uses the word “metamorphosis” in Romans 12:2.
There he writes, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed (metamorphosis) by the renewal of your mind”.
And our minds are renewed by letting God shape how we think and act through his Word in the Bible.
So, it's worth reflecting on: How different is your new life in Jesus to before you came to faith in him? Are you living to please God more than you used to? Can others see a change in you?
~ Contributed by Pastor Chris Taylor of the Deniliquin Baptist Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
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