When you compare a caterpillar with a butterfly, you find a host of differences. The caterpillar eats leaves, the butterfly sucks nectar. The caterpillar looks yucky to most girls - hence the squeals and squirms - while the butterfly is gorgeous - hence the "ooo"s and "ahhh"s. And of course, one crawls slowly and the other flits gloriously. Who would ever imagine there's a connection between them?
Maybe you've done what I did as a child. I watched a caterpillar spin a cocoon about itself on a limb, took the limb and placed it in a mason jar with holes punched in the lid, and waited an eternity (10 days or so) until the butterfly emerged - when it was admired, and then released.
They call that "metamorphosis", from the Greek for "change of shape", usually translated transformed in the Bible (like in that verse at the beginning). The change in our minds from a relationship with Christ is supposed to be a metamorphosis - such a dramatic reorganization of our attitudes, actions, and goals that it's unimaginable that one springs from the other. It's miraculous to find that a lowly caterpillar becomes a lovely butterfly, and it's even more miraculous to find a person transformed from sinner to Saint. So how could such a thing happen?
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
The Greek word for "repent" - metanoia - is a sort of word cousin to metamorphosis, meaning "change of mind". As a person repents - turns from their sinful ways and turns toward the life of faith - a transformation begins. It doesn't always look lovely, it's never very easy, often painful, and sometimes it seems to be taking forever, but it IS happening. We are being transformed from objects of disgust and disdain to inspirations of Joy and Wonder.
Do you see us in our caterpillar phase and doubt we'll ever soar to the heavens? Honestly, we do too. But we are Standing on His Promises, Acting on His Principles, and Becoming like His Portrait, and so can you! Repent, and begin the Metamorphosis to a Heaven-bound Glory...
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 1 John 3:2
