Metamorphosis

Have you marveled at a caterpillar transforming itself to butterfly? It is an extraordinary change, the characteristics of the caterpillar are totally gone and a new creature totally different, beautiful and free appears! Often we are far more focused on changing our circumstances but God is interested in changing us. Just like a butterfly, our full potential and glory is only realised when we change and become more like our Creator. Change when driven by God in our life is beautiful! We too need to experience the same metamorphosis or change like in a butterfly, irreversible and totally transformational.

The first Christian experience of repentance and conversion is a change, the daily process of sanctification of being renewed in the likeness of God is a change, and the final eschatological transformation into Christ’s likeness when we meet Him face to face is a change! Change in the Christian life is inevitable and should be continual. While our God is unchanging because He is perfect, we need change as we are imperfect and we need to be transformed more and more into His likeness!
2 Corinthians 5:17
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 
Romans 6:4
⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

This change in Greek is called metanoia or change of mind, resulting in a transformation or metamorphosis in us. It is a change that is inside out and is about aligning our inner life, thinking and attitude with God’s values. Yes, once we are saved, it’s a new start! After being saved, we are on a continual journey of being changed every day, bit by bit to be more and more like Christ through a process called sanctification with the help of the Holy Spirit. We start to be directed by Christ increasingly as we realise that the old self with it’s selfish sinful nature has been nailed to the cross and has no power over us. We begin to develop a love for God and pursue God’s desires, plans and purposes. We are no longer slaves to our old self and sin but free indeed to live to bring glory to our Lord!
Ephesians 4:22-24
²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Saul who was persecuting Christians underwent such a dramatic conversion once he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. We see in his life, the process of transformation as he read the scriptures in a new light, spent time in prayer, partnered with the Holy Spirit and lived in discipleship and fellowship with like minded people. The Saul we first encounter was legalistic and working actively against Christ and then we witness him becoming the Apostle Paul by undergoing a complete metamorphosis.

Paul was not just sorry for what he had done instead Paul had a complete “metanoia” transformation. Paul’s heart, mind, purpose and direction in life completely changed. He truly became a new man with a new purpose to serve Christ and to live to glorify Him. Our lives too need to reflect this genuine change, a complete turning around back to God. It starts with turning our minds and inner ways back to God’s ways and this in turn changes our actions, direction and behaviors resulting in total transformation. Paul became a true servant of the Gospel of grace and with his personal transformation brought about transformation to whole communities and nations!
Galatians 2:20
²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

God is not only interested in our own personal change but also in changing situations, the communities and nations around us just like Paul did! He not only wants us to change but He wants us to be agents of change and be a change maker! What are the changes that you need to make? Embrace change that is directed by God because God is making something beautiful out of the transformation in you! Ask God to make you a change maker by bringing His transformation to the world we live in!