WONDEROUS CHANGE

Did you know that METAMORPHOSIS is a term derived from the Greek word meaning a transformation? Truth is that we are born out of the seed, the ova, the egg of Abraham. Much like the butterfly, there are four stages in our transformation, our metamorphosis from being a voracious consumer of all the world has to offer, to a new creature "in Christ" who has been gifted with unique abilities. With discernment we fly high above world views and we see things correctly through the mind of Christ. We were all born from a seed, on a planet full of many things to eat, ideas to ingest. The larva (caterpillar) eats voraciously for several weeks, growing so fat, so full that it splits its skin and sheds several times. The baby (human) eats for several months, and grows out of its newborn clothes quickly. The hard shelled PUPA (chrysalis) is formed around the caterpillar because it has chosen to slow down with a willingness to surrender ALL to it's Creator.  For several months, inside the hard

pupa a miraculous meltdown occurs. Science confirms that the caterpillar is no more ---as inside the pupa, nothing is found but green slime.  Not a leg, not an ear, not an eye, an idea or the skin of a caterpillar exists. From the green slime, God knits together a whole new creature with amazing wings and a purpose filled gift to fly.  The ADULT (butterfly) emerges from the hardened pupa ready for a new life, not crawling on the ground, but in flight looking down with a new body, and a life filled with AWE.  The Monarch butterfly reaches deep into flowers and gathers a lot of nectar, they taste with their feet.  "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Pollen sticks to their feet and they transport this life giving nutrient to make a new seed, a new plant.  Like the outer shell of a single kernel of wheat must be broken, for new life to come forth, so must we. What does our Lord love and require of us? A broken and contrite spirit.  For we humans to crack, to breakdown, to surrender to God's bigger plan, it often takes much suffering on our part.  As we yield to the seed of Truth bursting within us, we agree to be confined to the Word of God, and to be transformed. Our Father desires His creation to fully experience "Christ in us" His hope for glory! The butterflies compound eyes allow them to see a wide spectrum of color and detect predators while in flight.  The wings are made of tiny scales which are water repellent.  The Monarch migrates up to 3,000 miles for a single season, never to return.  Simply consider how the Creator of all things installed a GPS in the mind of a butterfly, that the Monarch, several

generations later, still manages to return to the same exact place of origin is still a subject of research and astounding WONDER.  Wise people gather much insight by reading God’s word. It is truly marvelous to behold the discovery that as we surrender ALL, and die to our self-centered ways, we emerge to migrate in flight to spread the GOOD NEWS. Just like the caterpillar, we put off the corrupted old self, and during the divine melting down process of sanctification, we are no longer constrained by the world, but we are set free, as a new creature in Christ. We were chosen and saved by grace to continue to work out our salvation as we renew our mind in who we are "in Him".  Several generations later, man returns to marvel at the mystery of God’s ways! "As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning." LUKE 9:29 ~ "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

Unwilling to commit to the cocoon,
40 years later, no surrender, no change!

For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - Without falling to the ground and dying to our selfish ways, we remain a single seed, with no growth, and zero CHANGE.  People who are bound to their flesh, their will, their ways - they remain unable to experience all the glory of God. Consider the Apostle Paul and if he boasted, he spoke about his weakness, for without Christ we can do nothing that has any eternal value. Thank God for each season, for every change, and for His consistency, and the Holy Spirit's persistent conviction to "walk this way".  His job "in us" is to teach, guide and grow us until we step into heaven. The work of Jesus was finished on the cross, but we are reminded to work out our salvation, our freedom  "in Christ".  As a new creature in Christ we are given compound eyes that allow us to see a wider, larger purpose and detect predators while on our journey. Without divine transformation, we cannot the crucified life. A poem that inspires a stuffed caterpillar to Total Surrender "and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:24 and "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36  Ever wonder what your gift is? Click this link and be transported to a look at the Gifts of the Spirit