My Sister and Her Butterflies

As I watch the butterflies in our garden, I smile thinking of my only sister, Aie. She loves butterflies! She has them (decal, drawing, photo, ceramic, plastic) on most of her doodads like fans, eyeglasses, notebooks, pens, umbrella, flip-flops, etc. 

Why? I don't know. Come to think of it, I never got around to asking her. 

They are in the Bible! I say to myself, because during this pandemic, most (if not all) of her days are focused on our home church in the province. In the absence of a pastor, she seems to have naturally slid into the role. 

Actually, butterflies are not found in God's book, but their life cycle is an uncanny illustration of the transforming work of Jesus Christ in the lives of believers. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV), we read, ". . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 

The same God, who changes a caterpillar into a butterfly, transforms a sinner into a saved soul. 

The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has striking parallels to a Christian's life: conversion, resurrection, and transfiguration. The word transform is metamorpheo in Greek, the origin of the English term metamorphosis—the  change a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly. This very same word is used to explain Christ’s transfiguration: a complete transformation. 

At Jesus’ transfiguration, his physical appearance metamorphosed from an ordinary Human to a divine Being in all His glory while three of His disciples (Peter, James, and John) watched:  

". . . He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 17:2) Just like a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon to become a butterfly! That must be why Aie loves this remarkable marvel.  

I am no theologian and cannot articulate it in greater detail, but to me, it seems that our cocoon stage as Christians is when we die to sin. 

What a mind-blowing grace!