Metamorphosis
First Published October 17, 2011
John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you,
no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
I’m certain that this statement from Jesus has perplexed people from the time he uttered it and even today. Many of his words remain a mystery, but today’s verse I believe may have a parallel example in our everyday world.
I recently attended the California premiere of Illustra Media's production of Metamorphosis (http://illustramedia.com/), the intriguing documentary about the mystery of the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies. I was thrilled to be in the auditorium for two reasons. First, when I was very young, I wrote a report on the Monarch Butterfly and was proud of my third grade brilliance and artwork. Also, I was curious to see how Illustra's Lad Allen and Jerry Harned would reveal God's handiwork in this amazing process.
I was not disappointed on either count. Flashbacks of my neatly handwritten report confirmed the eloquent images and general information about the life of butterflies, particularly the Monarch. And the arguments supporting a creative maker who designed such a wondrous event as metamorphosis were equally solid and beautifully presented. I praised God for the ability for Man today to unlock many of these secrets that once remained silent.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here!
What did Paul mean when he said in Christ we are a new creation? Think of the many contrasts between the old life of the caterpillar and the new life of the butterfly. The caterpillar has limited mobility and constantly eats. The new butterfly has the ability of flight, multi-sensory antennae, long legs, and compound eyes, not to mention the beautiful wings.
After the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, the old self is gone. It is no longer a caterpillar. It’s as if it was born anew. I think Paul was saying that believing in Christ is as wonderful as the butterfly’s metamorphosis. Our new life is so different from the old one, that it is as if we were born again as new creatures. Wow!
Romans 6:4
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.
Copyright 2011 Karen Vaughn
John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you,
no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
I’m certain that this statement from Jesus has perplexed people from the time he uttered it and even today. Many of his words remain a mystery, but today’s verse I believe may have a parallel example in our everyday world.
I recently attended the California premiere of Illustra Media's production of Metamorphosis (http://illustramedia.com/), the intriguing documentary about the mystery of the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies. I was thrilled to be in the auditorium for two reasons. First, when I was very young, I wrote a report on the Monarch Butterfly and was proud of my third grade brilliance and artwork. Also, I was curious to see how Illustra's Lad Allen and Jerry Harned would reveal God's handiwork in this amazing process.
I was not disappointed on either count. Flashbacks of my neatly handwritten report confirmed the eloquent images and general information about the life of butterflies, particularly the Monarch. And the arguments supporting a creative maker who designed such a wondrous event as metamorphosis were equally solid and beautifully presented. I praised God for the ability for Man today to unlock many of these secrets that once remained silent.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here!
What did Paul mean when he said in Christ we are a new creation? Think of the many contrasts between the old life of the caterpillar and the new life of the butterfly. The caterpillar has limited mobility and constantly eats. The new butterfly has the ability of flight, multi-sensory antennae, long legs, and compound eyes, not to mention the beautiful wings.
After the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, the old self is gone. It is no longer a caterpillar. It’s as if it was born anew. I think Paul was saying that believing in Christ is as wonderful as the butterfly’s metamorphosis. Our new life is so different from the old one, that it is as if we were born again as new creatures. Wow!
Romans 6:4
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.
Copyright 2011 Karen Vaughn
posted by Karen Vaughn | 9:32 PM
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