Spring is a favorite time of the year as the cold snow melts to reveal the new grass hiding underneath. Wild flowers shoot up, gently swaying in the breeze while honey bees and butterflies navigate from flower to flower. Tiny buds turn to blossoms and leaves cover the once barren trees. The earth has awoken from hibernation into the fullness of life! These signs of life after a cold winter point us to our Heavenly Father who is the only giver and sustainer of life. The stunning transformation of the life cycle of a butterfly reveals this clearly.
Consider how the beautiful Monarch butterfly starts off as a minuscule egg on a leaf. After the caterpillar leaves the egg, it enters the world with a massive appetite and immediately eats the leaves close by. Soon the caterpillar will find a safe branch to attach itself to and form a chrysalis. Here, another wonder takes place as it emerges with a new body! The once fat, ugly caterpillar is now a beautiful Monarch butterfly. Every stage of its life brought a dramatic change leading to its final form.
This life cycle reminds us of our own. Our unique and minuscule bodies were created and formed in the womb until we were brought into this world as a little infant. We roam this earth for a short time but we know that one day it will end, and we will enter the grave. Herein is a “chrysalis,” where we emerge, bright, beautiful, and with a transformed body. No longer chained to our sinful natures we will be given the wings of freedom from all sin and enter our new home with our Lord.
"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
While this transformation will change our physical body, our Creator is gently forming and molding us spiritually right now! Just as coal is purged in the fire to reveal sparkling diamonds, God is purging us too! We are born dead in sin with a sinful human nature that despises God and His Word. By His grace, He sent His Son to take our sins and the punishment due for them. He further regenerates us by His Spirit and gives us a new life to live unto Him. Jesus explained this mystery to Nicodemus when he came to him that night as it’s recorded in John 3. In the third verse, Jesus says, “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He follows that up by saying in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
In our sinful natures, we do not see Christ as our Lord and Savior but by God’s grace, we are given eyes of faith and are born again. Our hard heart of unbelief is softened by His Spirit to reflect His love freeing us from the chains of sin. Even now He is transforming us to be more like Him. One day we will “fly” home to be with Him forever. The winter of this life gives way to the eternal spring and everlasting season of life with Him in Heavenly glory.
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