Do you want to be a caterpillar forever?

Recently after I read a book about ladybugs to our 2-year old, I got an insight from the Lord. He reminded me that we are just like caterpillars that can be transformed into beautiful butterflies or moths... and even ladybugs go through those stages.

The definition of transformation itself is "to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character". 

Before a caterpillar becomes a cocoon (for moth) or chrysalis (for butterfly), it has to eat lots & lots of leaves, usually from the host tree (the tree where its mother has carefully chosen to lay the egg on).

My older daughter recently took home a caterpillar that was ready to turn into a cocoon, and she did a lot of research about it.  The next day, it turned into a cocoon, and we were so excited to wait for it to turn into a moth.  As a Christian, we all want to be more and more like Christ our Redeemer, but we are often only stuck in the caterpillar stage. The word "Transformation" is too big for us, it's almost impossible sometimes, and it takes a long time for most of us. The good news is, it's possible!

Caterpillars have to eat a lot before they turn into pupas, and they molt four or five times as they grow.   The reason is because all that food makes their exoskeletons tight on them, so they have to let go of their old exoskeletons, and get new ones.  This is very interesting, because as Christians , we have the choice of whether we want to move to the next stage or not.

Our spiritual food is the Word of God, which is our Bible.  As we feed on these words, we slowly adopt new characters and eventually hate our old ones, and slowly "molt" many many times.   Roman 12:2 tells us that we should not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind that we may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

During the pupa stage, inside the cocoon, the caterpillar organs and other structures are somehow going through a "complete remodeling" process.  When we are going through our changes, we must die to ourselves, carry our crosses daily, crucify our bad habits, say no to our temptations, build up new good habits, and develop new characters in Christ.  This is very hard to do since our nature and our flesh loves comfort and convenience.  We are pulled by the world, by what it promises through the media, commercials, etc.

This "metamorphosis" process is the most difficult one for every Christian. That's why some just avoid it, stay in the "larva" stage forever, and just carry a label that says "I am a Christian". It's true we are born sinners, but when we come to Christ, we have a new nature.  The Holy Spirit can help transforming us into the image of Christ from glory to glory ( 2 Cor 3:18).

Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 9:24 says : "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."  We should concentrate on the prize, which is valuable and beautiful. That cocoon or chrysalis will turn into a beautiful butterfly or moth, so as our difficult "metamorphosis" will turn us to be more and more like Him.  At the end we will be called "faithful servants" and receive our prizes.  Or do we really
want to be a caterpillar forever?