During a recent vacation, I spent a glorious hour in a wonderful butterfly conservatory. Lush tropical flowers and foliage, clear water trickling from a stream to a flamingo pond, and quiet, soothing music provided a beautiful setting to enjoy the stunning main attraction– the butterflies. Hundreds and hundreds of butterflies! Immediately upon entering, I was enthralled with the vibrant colors and striking patterns of the soft, graceful, flickering wings.
As I watched a group of butterflies peacefully eating, another butterfly silently landed on my leg. However, rather than the annoyance that I normally feel to have an insect land on my skin, I felt great joy and wonder at this gentle, lovely, feather-soft visitor. Unlike other insects, butterflies don’t bite or sting. They don’t buzz or hum. They don’t transport disease. Butterflies, in my opinion, are beautiful, elegant, peaceful ambassadors from the insect world.
But, butterflies do not start out this way. Butterflies are produced through an amazing, natural process in which a humble, worm-like caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis. After an egg hatches, the emerging caterpillar begins a cycle of voracious eating. Some caterpillars eat so much that they grow 100 times their original size. All of this eating serves a purpose. It is stored for the next phase, the pupa, chrysalis, or cocoon.
In the pupa stage, the caterpillar becomes encased in a protective covering. While hidden inside this cocoon, amazing things are happening. Cells that were present in the original caterpillar begin to grow into wings, legs, and antennae. All of these changes occur using the stored food from the caterpillar’s great time of feeding.
When the chrysalis stage is finally over, what emerges looks nothing like the original caterpillar that went into the cocoon. Instead, there is a lovely, vibrant butterfly!
The transformation of the lowly caterpillar into the majestic butterfly inspires me as I continue to meditate on “All Things NEW for the Christian” this new year. In fact, the verb form of the Greek word, metamorphosis, occurs 4 times in the New Testament. The first two usages are Matt. 17:2 and Mark 9:2 which both refer to the transfiguration of Jesus. While praying on a mountaintop, in full view of the apostles Peter, James, and John, Jesus begins to shine with rays of light as he converses with the OT prophets Moses and Elijah. His appearance became so different, so unlike the normal, that the writers of the gospels describe it as “transfigured”.
The other two uses of the word, metamorphoo, are translated “transformed” and apply to Christians.
Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Paul begins Romans chapter 12 telling believers that they should not stay the same. Because of the great mercy and grace that God has granted to the believer (as explained by Paul in Chapters 1-11) the Christian should live a life of service to God. This new way of living, according to verse 2, involves “transforming” from one who lives and acts just like the rest of the world into one who lives sacrificially for the Lord. This “metamorphosis”, or complete change, involves the renewing of the mind. The believer’s mind feeds on the true Word of God in order to think with the mind of Christ.
II Corinthians 3:18 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.
In his second usage of metamorphoo, Paul talks about how all believers are being transformed into the image of the Lord. We each are in the process of changing from a death-bound sinner into the completely opposite perfect, glorious Christ. Like a butterfly…. spiritual metamorphosis.
From the purposes of the stages of the butterfly life cycle (which I found at this site), I found interesting spiritual analogies.
EGG —
First, the caterpillar hatches from the egg. Just as all earthly life begins with a birth, spiritual life also begins with a spiritual birth. (John 3:1-8 You must be born again)
CATERPILLAR–
The main purpose of the caterpillar stage is feeding. In order to bring about the great transformation, a caterpillar must eat and store enough food to grow strong and support the change. In order to be changed spiritually, we must also feed greatly on the Word of the God, the Bible. The Word is what renews the mind and brings metamorphosis.
PUPA–
The pupa stage is the transition. During this time, the caterpillar grows the wings, legs, antennae that make up the butterfly. As a Christian, we also are in transition. As we feed on the Word, we develop spiritual attributes that weren’t present in our former worldly self. Spiritual fruit and desires arise that give evidence that we are not the same as we were.
BUTTERFLY–
The beautiful, gentle butterfly stage also has a main natural purpose– to reproduce. Isn’t that also the purpose of believers, especially those who are mature and Christ-like?
(Mark 16:15 )
When the world looks at those of us who are Christians, they should see people who are changed from the rather ugly caterpillar of their former, sinful selves into the beautiful butterflies that reflect the image of Jesus. It is my hope that you, and I, would continue to feed on the word of God, allow that word to change us into the image of Christ, and share the gospel in order to make new disciples where ever we can in this new year.
(You can find some fun facts about butterflies on the page from the San Diego Zoo. Or look HERE to learn about the butterfly life cycle.)
With Joy!
Kathleen
Photo credit for caterpillar picture. License: (license)
photo credit: The Manic Macrographer The bushtucker trial…….. via photopin (license)
All other photographs are the copywritten property of www.CastingMyNet.com
I love the analogy of a how our growth as Christians is like a butterfly’s life cycles.
I always love the butterfly exhibits we’ve seen. But, my boys are a bit freaked out by it all.
I might have been freaked out also, at a younger age. I have never been extremely fond of insects. LOL! But, I have grown to love beautiful butterflies, and especially the spiritual picture that they portray so well.
Hi Kathleen,
Your post reminded me of 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.
My wife shared this analogy at a ladies’ conference, and she said it was the portion of her message that received the most feedback.
Thanks for your comment, Scott. It amazes me that God offers us the opportunity to change that completely, and I think the butterfly transformation gives us a good picture to help us visualize the spiritual reality.
I’ve never been to a butterfly conservatory, but I’d love to. I think the analogy I love the most is the command to reproduce. My I be faithful not just to transform, but to help others find their transformation, too.
Thanks, Pamela!
Love this! When I first became a Christian back in 98′ this metophor was used to describe the shedding of the old self and putting on of the new self. Back then I thought it was something that would happen quite quickly. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that wasn’t the case. Even today I am still changing, growing and learning. The process has been quite amazing!
Heather, I think I also once thought the transformation would be rapid. However, I have been a believer for over 40 years, and I am not there yet… However, I am also not what I was. So that is the amazing part of sanctification!
Kathy, this was a much-needed reminder for me to feed daily on God’s word in order to continually renew my mind. I’ve been having more trouble than ever with this with 3 young children at home. Nothing, however, should be more important than QT with God, and I’ve found that nothing is more satisfying. Thanks for the reminder to make this a (or should I say THE) priority.
Angie,
Hi! You are in the very difficult stage, with 3 young children at home. Always busy, busy, busy. I remember feeling very guilty that I didn’t have hours to spend in the Word at that time. One wise woman said to me, “If you only have 10 minutes… grab that 10 minutes and read a few verses and meditate on them all day. 10 minutes is better than 0 minutes.” That advice was so freeing for me. Instead of always feeling guilty and vowing to find time tomorrow, I grabbed the time that I had and trusted God to provide the time that I needed. Hang in there!
I have always loved butterflies for this very reason. It is always fun when I get to teach the butterfly unit to my kids and other students because I get to use God’s creation to point them to Christ and the way He works in our lives. Beautiful pictures!
I love how God has given so many illustrations of HIs word in His creation.
wow! I LIKED this analog thanks kathy
I am glad you found it helpful. 🙂
Thanks for this analogy Kathleen. I bumped on this message while preparing to deliver sermon on same topic, and i found it quiet useful. The growth of believers is all about being aware of our true picture in Christ. We are not meant to remain same. Egg that is not hatch will become nuisance.
Hi Kathleen,
I found your beautiful article while looking for the term ‘spiritual transformation.’
Something you may find interesting is that on Wikipedia, and related linkage to the word ‘pupa’
(en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Pupa) four life stages of metamorphosis are defined as egg, larva, pupa, and imago. I find the latter term ‘imago’ of great importance because we are created in the image of God
(numerous verses) and the chrysalis stage is fairly well described in 2 Corinthians 4:16. The Message version says it quite well: “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.”
Kathleen,
This is timely for me to read your blog for such a time as this Esther 4:14. I’m in the middle of a spiritual metamorphosis per say after 45+ years as a follower of Christ. The analogy of a butterfly’s journey to change of feasting, resting and emerging are a beautiful explanation of the spiritual journey the Father has me on. And, through it all, He’s reassured me that I’ll emerge as a beautiful butterfly, full of life, color (character) and feasting on the sweetness of God. For we taste and see that the Lord is good. Through this new found freedom from bondage inside the cocoon we emerge free to fly to our God appointed destinies. I appreciate your words of wisdom.
I received a prophecy from God for our morning prayer at church. The first three sentences went as follow:
When we approach our Father for forgiveness, he puts his wing around us, brings us close, and completely inhales us into what I saw as a cocoon. Inside this cocoon, we are protected and comforted by our Father, where repentance, metamorphosis then completeness. We are then released in all God’s glory and grace.
The morning prayer was about Ephesians 5:1 “Follow God’s example” It went on into how God wants us to follow His example of love and mercy for forgiveness when asking others to forgive us for our wrong against them.
Love your article.
Thank you for your message and for all the words from other believers.
I was praying and crying out to the Lord this morning.
What I heard my voice say was “ I need metamorphosis”
I thought Hmm , what exactly is that?
So I looked on google for a definition. Which led to Romans 12:2. As I continued I found your article.
I thank the Lord for leading me here, now.
Very comforting. I was feeling like a fraud and failure… thinking I should be much further along in my Christian walk by this time in my life.
It’s a process, and I’m still being worked on.
Thank you and all your readers .
Blessings . Shirley