Transformation

Here in the UK, we've had a wonderful summer. For me, in my short time here, its been the best summer I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Temperatures tipped the 30 degree mark at one point, I was really happy! The English countryside was in full bloom after the Spring rains, the roses, flowers and trees were all bursting forth with life. The bees and birds kept us good company and then in the last three weeks there have also been a great number of beautiful butterflies fluttering around the lavender bushes and flowers.

I have so enjoyed seeing the land come alive, every bit of it buzzing with life. Being on a farm and living in the countryside helps to reinforce the changing seasons. Just watching the bees and butterflies has brought me great joy. A few others have also noticed the great number of butterflies this year, twirling in the air, sprinkling the atmosphere with life and colour. As I enjoyed them I felt a prompting to find out more about their lives.

We know that butterflies do not start out so beautifully colourful or so graceful. 

I've learnt there are four stages that a butterfly has to go through in order to become one. 

The first stage is laying the egg...
An adult mother butterfly has to lay an egg on a leaf. Not just any leaf but a leaf that the caterpillar (who will emerge from the egg) will eat. When caterpillars hatch out of the egg, they are not strong enough to crawl anywhere so they need to be able to eat the leaf into which they were born.

The second stage is the larva stage...
This is where the eggs hatch and produce what we call caterpillars. They are short, stubby and weak when they are first born. Then they eat the leaf they were born into and are strengthened to travel about to find more food. The caterpillar's focus is food, it needs to eat and eat lots so that it can grow quickly and reach the next stage.

The third stage is the pupa stage...
This is a fascinating part of a butterfly's life cycle, for me it's the best part. Once the caterpillar has eaten all it needs, to grow as much as possible, it starts to form a pupa or chrysalis. It hangs upside down from a branch or twig, folds itself in and wraps itself up real snug. This where the process of change happens and wings and body are formed. This amazing change is called metamorphosis.

The fourth stage is the birthing of the butterfly...
Once the pupa has undergone the process of change and metamorphosis is complete it becomes a butterfly. It has to push it's way through the chrysalis to emerge into the world. The wings are not strong enough for flying yet though but after a few hours of pumping blood into its wings, it will get ready to fly and then off it goes!

In his letter to the Romans, chapter 11, verse 36 to chapter 12 verse 2 (KJV): For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be the glory for ever. Amen. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to the ways of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Looking at the verses above, there is an outline of a process of transformation that we need to go through...

• Recognising who God is and who we are in Him (we are born of Him)
• Recognising and accepting God's mercy 
• Presenting ourselves to God as a holy and acceptable living sacrifice
• Detaching ourselves from the ways of this world and being transformed by the renewing of our minds

The word transform in the scripture above in the original Greek is metamorphoo*, which means to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. It is the same word used to describe the process the caterpillar or larva undergoes within the chrysalis to become a butterfly. It is also the same word used to describe Jesus' appearance on a high mountain: And after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (Matt 17:20 KJV)

The fruit of the chrysalis is a beautiful butterfly. The fruit of the process of transformation by the renewing of our minds is knowing the good, acceptable, perfect will of God. Both result in beauty (establishing the Kingdom on earth), both enable flight. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

It seems that a sign of submission to the renewing of the mind is that we do not think too highly of ourselves. As Paul goes on to say in Romans 12, verse 3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

How often have we asked God what His will is, what He wants us to do in a certain situation or season or even just what He wants us to do that day. We can know God's will, it is available to us. Paul's words are an exciting invitation to know these things. It is Father's good pleasure for us to know His will and then do His will. Let us accept the invitation to get transformed so we can let the blood flow into our wings and do all that we have been created to do according to the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Spot the bee!

*Source: Blue Letter Bible