What the caterpillar perceives is the end….
22 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in The Process
…to the butterfly is just the beginning
“therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
The butterfly is a symbol of the amazing transformation that takes place in the life of a Christian through the power of Jesus Christ. The Word replaces the old self with the new self, it is a complete metamorphosis, as with the butterfly. The life-cycle of a butterfly is a fascinating series of changes, we tend to overlook that the butterfly is the result of a journey. A journey that is quite different from that of many creatures on this planet. Before it reaches maturity it must undergo a series of remarkable transformations.
Starting as an egg, the butterfly-to-be grows inside the egg for several days before it reaches the larval stage, then it begins a time as a caterpillar. Caterpillars do not stay in this stage for very long and mostly, in this stage all they do is eat. As believers we must do the same, we must eat the Word. To eat the word speaks of the believer reading, meditating, and applying it to our daily life and experience. In this stage the caterpillar repeatedly molts, adding a new skin and shedding the old so it can continue to grow. We must take the Word of God into our hearts and lives, let it change us, and with our lives being changed by the Word we just like the caterpillar molt and grow.
The caterpillar is then ready for the next stage of its life as a chrysalis, or pupa, it enters it cocoon. Sometimes as we are moving from one season in life to another we experience a time where we feel like we are alone, isolated, and in the dark. Because it seems like no one and nothing is available to us, our worlds seem to become confined…we are in a tight place. This is what happens to a caterpillar when it enters its cocoon. It enters into a tight space, I am pretty sure it is dark, and maybe even uncomfortable. In this space, the caterpillar can’t move and may feel constricted, frustrated, and stagnant. It is in this place that we must rest in the fact that God has it all under control. He is protecting you here, hiding you while you are in the vulnerable phase of transformation. In this place, He is restoring you, fortifying you and strengthening you to be able to handle your next season and He is changing you, transforming you, and manifesting destiny within you.
In this stage the caterpillar hangs upside down, usually from a twig or branch, and encases itself in a protective cocoon. Upside down, wow that can be a scary place. You are disoriented, you’re scared and this is place most of us give up. We think its too hard but we don’t realize that we are at the brink. We are almost at our destination, if we abort here we emerge incomplete. Here, over about 10 to 14 days, the caterpillar undergoes the most amazing transformation. At the end of this stage its protective shell becomes transparent, and a adult butterfly emerges.
Its metamorphosis complete, the butterfly starts its new life. This new creature is nothing like what we saw before. As it matured it changed in many ways. It transformed into something far different. Its end result is far from its beginning. The caterpillar liquefies inside the chrysalis and reforms into a butterfly. I read this morning that even after years of research, all the details of this journey, are not completely understood. God does the same thing with us. He transforms us into totally different creatures. It is a transformation from the inside out. Who but God could transform us from the filthy rags we are into vessels of honor fit for the Master’s use.
The caterpillar was never designed to remain just a caterpillar. It was created to eventually spread its wings and take flight! So don’t fight the process. Rest in His embrace; enjoy the peace of His protective silence; and prepare for the beauty of change.
