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by Bishop Duane Swilley
Butterflies are such beautiful creatures, but they don't start out in life that way. They start out as ugly caterpillars. To become beautiful butterflies, they have to go through a transformation process called 'metamorphosis'.
Metamorphosis is the series of developmental stages insects go through to become adults. Butterflies and moths have four stages of life: egg, larva (the caterpillar stage), pupa (the chrysalis phase), and adult.
The life of a believer is like this. We don't start out like butterflies. We go through constant transformation, so we can be more and more like Jesus. This happens gradually as we renew our minds by reading, speaking, and obeying God's Word---and as we go through changes and transitions that propel us into our destinies. It hurts sometimes, but the results are wonderful.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
A butterfly lays its eggs on a leaf of a plant. The larva eats its way out of the shell and emerges from the egg as a caterpillar. It starts to eat the plant leaf that it is on and begins to grow. This goes on until it outgrows its skin (which cannot grow) and sheds the skin---similar to the way a snake does. A new, larger skin is always waiting under the one that is shed. As believers, we go through a process similar to this. We shed the 'skin' of our old nature and put on our new nature.
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:9-10
The larva eats more and goes through this process several times, until it becomes bigger and then turns into a pupa. On this final molt or shedding of the skin, this pupa hangs on the plant in a small loop of silk. It is protected by a pupal shell called a cocoon.
The finishing process that forms the caterpillar into the beautiful butterfly continues inside the cocoon. the tissues completely break down and reorganize. The outlines of adult features -- the wings, eyes, tongue, antennae, and body segments -- can be seen on the surface of the pupal skin. When the butterfly is fully formed, the pupal case splits and the butterfly emerges...pumps up its wings and takes off.
The process must be painful, but If the caterpillar gets out of the cocoon too soon it will never become a butterfly. It’s the struggle that takes place inside the cocoon that makes the change.
Don’t try to get out of the cocoon too soon. Sometimes the trials and changing circumstances we go through are painful, but they are absolutely necessary to make us into the person God wants us to be. God knows exactly how much we can handle and won’t allow us to be overwhelmed.
Remember, transition brings forth transformation. It changes caterpillars into butterflies.
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GOD HAS GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE
know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.
Jeremiah 29:11 (Message Bible) |
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