Metamorphosis
by Kim Larsen
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” Great as is the shame and degradation through sin , even greater will be the honor and exaltation through redeeming love. To human beings striving for conformity to the divine image there is imparted an outlay of heaven’s treasure, an excellency of power, that will place them higher than even the angels who have never fallen. COL 163
My mind cannot even wrap around this concept. How is it that the Son of God can take our place, become sin for us and trade places with us in a way that we human beings become in a position higher than those created beings who have never sinned? The only thing that I can say is Thank you Jesus, for giving me the privilege to become a new creation in you!
I have been watching 5 small caterpillars making a similar transition this week. We received the cup of caterpillars in the mail about 10 days ago. They were very small, without any special markings or significance. We didn’t see them really move much less eat, but apparently they did because the next day, they had grown! By the 3rd day they had doubled in size. Every morning when I woke up it was nearly the first thing that I did to peek to see what was going to happen next! It wasn’t long until they fastened themselves on top and hung down in a “J” right on schedule. That is 4 of them did…one fat caterpillar was behind all of the rest. He took an extra day to eat and grow yet larger in size. I was worried that he wasn’t going to catch up. The rest were slowly turning into a chrysalis. I thought that I would understand the process better by watching it happen, but I’m still in the dark! How did that happen? How did they change right before my eyes and I didn’t see it! Now we wait, as the big transformation is taking place inside their quiet shell. Soon we will see them emerge as an adult butterfly, the change complete to continue the life cycle.
Our lives are just a picture of this process as well. The definition of metamorphosis is a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means. The Christian life is totally a supernatural change! We grow as we spend time eating the Word of God and sharing what we have learned with someone else. The change is slow and imperceptible, sometimes it feels like it will never really take place, but then it does. We long to become more complete in Christ and spread our wings to begin our new life on the other side. Just like that fat slow caterpillar, for some of us it takes longer. Look back how God has led in the past. Look where you came from. The desires change. The habits fall away. The selfishness is a struggle, but we have an example. Jesus promises to recreate us in his image and one day we will see Him face to face.
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin fur us , that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. To the heart that has become purified, all is changed. Transformation of character is the testimony to the world of an indwelling Christ. The Spirit of God produces a new life in the soul, bringing the thoughts and desires into obedience to the will of Christ. Don’t give up, or become impatient. The metamorphosis takes time, but each day we are closer to spreading our wings!!
The Bible In Your Hand 