Sabbath Thought - Metamorphosis

One of the most fascinating events in nature is the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The change that a caterpillar goes through is not simply an outward transformation - the caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis. The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is a wonderful illustration of the change we Christians are to go through.

A caterpillar is born to be an eating machine. Its job is to consume as much appropriate food as it can in order to become a butterfly. The young caterpillars start off eating and basically don't stop until their metamorphosis. They grow tremendously during this time and once the caterpillars have grown big enough (usually in about 2-3 weeks) they will be ready for their final molt that will reveal the chrysalis.

This chrysalis is the final manifestation of its exoskeleton and it becomes the chamber in which the caterpillar will transform into a butterfly. Everything about the transformation the butterfly goes through is nothing short of amazing and astounding. The caterpillar locates a spot to be safe and protected during its chrysalis stage, and then creates a web mat to secure itself to. In the approximate center of this mat is placed a loose weave 'button' raised from the mat surface. The caterpillar hooks claws on its rear legs onto this 'button' it has made and lowers its body to hang in a "J" shape, head downward.

Peristaltic waves pass from the head toward the attached end, and the skin parts at a designed suture line and peels upward. There, underneath it all, is a pupa - the final exoskeleton of the caterpillar. The soft pupa is exposed to the air and it dries and hardens. This is when the miracle of God's creative ability happens - an enzyme is released that dissolves every tissue of the caterpillar. It is like melting ice. Inside the caterpillar there are "imaginal disks" which transform into the wings, legs, organs, and antennae of the butterfly. In about 1-2 weeks the adult butterfly will be ready to emerge.

When the butterfly is ready to hatch out it will release some hormones that soften the chrysalis shell. The butterfly will push its way out of the chrysalis and cling to the it with its wings hanging down. The butterfly will be unable to fly as it pumps fluid from its body into its crumpled wings to harden them. After several hours the butterfly will be ready for its first flight.

In Romans 12:1-2 we are told to be transformed to become like God. The Greek word translated into English as "transformed" is "metamorphoo" (met-am-or-fo-o) - this is where we get the English word metamorphosis. God desires of us nothing less than a complete metamorphosis of who and what we are. He is not interested in surface modifications (Ezekiel 36:16, Romans 7:22, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16).

Do you ever wonder why the life of a Christian seems so hard at times? Can you imagine every cell of your body being broken down into its fundamental state and then being rearranged to be something completely different? Does that sound like an easy process? We go through a life change like that caterpillar but in a different way - God uses events and trials of this life to help make us into what God desires for us to be (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:17). If we take on the mind of Christ, we will be completely changed (1 Corinthians 15:49, 52).

You and I have a far greater glory than a physical transformation awaiting us in our future. I encourage you to ponder the analogy of the metamorphosis that caterpillar goes through and what that portends for your life. As a son or daughter of God, your change is no less spectacular.

I wish you a spiritually transforming Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

17 July, 2021