From Caterpillars to
Butterflies.
by Tom
Caballes
"Beloved,
we are God's children now, and what
we will be has not yet appeared; but
we know that when he appears, we
shall be like him, because we shall
see him as he is."
- 1 John 3:2 ESV
When you see a caterpillar,
you would not think it will one day become a
glorious and gorgeous butterfly. From a
slow-moving, leaf-eating crawling worm-like
creature, it is slowly beefing itself up from
within into a flying, colourful, and special
insect. The butterfly is like us one day – we
are slowly being transformed from carnal,
sinful, proud, greedy, and self-centred people
to becoming holy, spiritual, self-giving, and
Christ-like beings. For now, we are
already new creatures from within [2
Corinthians 5:17] and are being transformed
from one degree of glory to another [2
Corinthians 3:16-18]. Because we are in
Christ, our time here on earth is like that of
the creature in a chrysalis: no longer a
caterpillar but not yet a butterfly. We are no
longer wretched but not yet complete winners.
We are still sinners, but we are already new
creatures within: we are becoming more and
more like Jesus day by day. Our transformation
will last a lifetime, and our end-goal is to
be like Christ in everything – in complete
likeness in character, mind, and speech. Are
you ready to spread your wings?
So How Do We
Allow God to Transform Us To Be
Like Christ?
- Be
confident of who you are amid doubts,
persecutions, and hardships. See what
kind of love the Father has given to us,
that we should be called children of God;
and so we are. (1 John 3:1A ESV) You
are a son or a daughter of God at all times
in all circumstances. Let nothing persuade
in believing you are less than who you truly
are. Regardless of your past sins, failures,
and your broken past, you are a new person
in Jesus.
- Let
challenges, hardships and trials become
opportunities for transformation. Steel that
is used to make swords is very sturdy and
can only be transformed when it is exposed
to extreme heat. We do not transform to
become holier people when things are all
fine and dandy. Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the testing of
your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking
in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV)
- Let
your mind be transformed by the Word of
God. Let your values, priorities, and
opinions be held captive by God’s word.
Transformation begins with the mind; then
the decisions we make and actions we do in
our lives. We also need to choose carefully
the people whom we hang out with; they
influence us in many ways.
- Be
patient. Transformation takes a lifetime. For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:10 ESV) There will be
times that we will fail and fall. Stand and
rise up; learn from your mistakes to avoid
those falls again.
- Let
the Holy Spirit take control of your life
daily and do not let the works of the flesh
rule over you. But I say, walk by the
Spirit, and you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh. For the desires of
the flesh are against the Spirit, and the
desires of the Spirit are against the
flesh, for these are opposed to each
other, to keep you from doing the things
you want to do. (Galatians 5:16-17 ESV).
It is a daily battle to live a holy life.
- Have
a “holy distance” with everything good in
this world. We are citizens of heaven
[Philippians 3:20] Let nothing in this life
allure you or amuse you that you forget who
you truly are.
- Anticipate
the day when you will become a butterfly
when your transformation in Christ is
complete. It would be worth all the troubles
and suffering we will encounter in this
life. ?
Other Scripture passages:
- Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation. The old has passed away; behold,
the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
- And
we all, with unveiled face, beholding the
glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from one degree of
glory to another. For this comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians
3:18 ESV)
- Other
Bible verses: Galatians 2:20; Romans
5:3-5; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:8-14; and
2 Timothy 2:15.
For
personal reflection or
group sharing
- What
areas in your life are you having a hard
time changing?
- How
patient are you with yourself in the process
of transformation?
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Tom
Caballes is the
National Senior
Administrator and a
National Coordinator
of the Lamb
of God, a
community of the
Sword of the Spirit
with 7 branches
located throughout
New Zealand. Tom
also leads Kairos
New
Zealand, an
outreach program for
high school,
university, and
post-university aged
people.
Tom and
his wife Mhel and
their two
daughters live in
Wellington, New
Zealand.
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