I love butterflies and one of my granddaughters gave me a string of beautiful butterflies which I have strung on my cactus as you can see.
Remember back in grade school where we learned about a caterpillar becoming a butterfly? It was called metamorphosis. Did you know that the Bible (in the original Greek) uses the word metamorphosis two times to tell how we can become all that we are intended to be? (Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18)?
With that in mind let’s refresh our memories of the process of metamorphosis with its 3 distinct stages so we can see what is happens to us..
(1) It begins when the larva/worm hatches from an egg. It begins its eating and growing stage-constantly eating/ never having enough.
(2) Then the larva spins a cocoon and goes into its resting stage. While inside the cocoon digestive juices destroy much of the worm’s body, leaving a few cells intact. The remaining cells will begin the growth of the adult by using the nutrients from the broken down larva. During this stage the insect is resting yet experiences a considerable amount of activity as its body tissues reorganize to form wings, legs, new mouth parts. it undergoes a complete transformation. Modern science is unable to explain how a lowly crawler (worm) with biting mouthparts and 12 sets of simple eyes can be transformed into a graceful winged insect with one pair of multifaceted eyes and a built-in straw for sipping nectar from flowers.
Unless the larva leaves his worm state of consuming hunger / constant eating and dies by entering the cocoon he will never become a butterfly.
(3) A totally different creature emerges from the cocoon with a great struggle and pressure. Note: if the cocoon opening is enlarged to aid the butterfly’s exit it will emerge deformed for the tremendous pressure of squeezing through the small opening is what forces the butterfly’s body fluids to move to the proper place for the fore and hind wings are attached and held in place by the veins at the base of the wings.
(1) We, like the worm, begin our lives constantly striving to feed our hungers our desires.
From the moment we are born we are hungry and then throughout life we are constantly trying to fill the emptiness we feel by feeding on the lust of the flesh (appetites), and the lust of the eyes (wanting what we see), and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17, Ephesians 2:1-3) but though we keep eating we never get full, nothing ever satisfies and the hole gets bigger and bigger. Ask any drug addict or alcoholic.
II Kings 17:15 chasing after emptiness, they empty themselves out.
(2) This cocoon or resting stage takes time for the worm and for us. It is a process that breaks down the old ways and creates the new.
Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice HE (JESUS) has made perfect forever those who are being (process) made holy.
Hebrews 7:25 JESUS can change us completely for HE lives forever to intercede for us..
Our worm dies and enters rest as we receive the Word of GOD/ JESUS.(John 1:1-3, 14). JESUS’ Words are SPIRIT (John 6:63) as we receive HIS Words of life we receive the HOLY SPIRIT of promise (Ephesians 1:13-14). GOD the HOLY SPIRIT baptizes us into the body of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 12:13) and as our teacher (John 16:13, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 10:16, 2 Corinthians 3:18) little by little the HOLY SPIRIT shows us things about JESUS and we want and desire to be like HIM but recognize we fall way short. So, we ask GOD to help us change. What we actually are doing is presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, for we are dying to our self/ our own desires (Romans 12:2).
In other words by believing in JESUS saving work we are given the HOLY SPIRIT (John 7:38-39) who shows us more and more about JESUS (2 Corinthians 3:18) and what GOD thinks and desires (Hebrews 10:16). Progressively, one thing at a time when we see GOD (the FATHER and JESUS) as HE is, we see how far we fall short of HIS standard (Romans 3:23) and ask GOD to help us change. When we do that we die to that area of our life.
(3) The pressure of our problems are needed for our strengthening/ problems produce yes, actually achieve for us (2 Corinthians 4:15-17) Through the struggles that we face (Romans 5:3-5, 8:28) GOD changes us and achieves for us astounding things vastly beyond all we could ask or even imagine. One day when we see JESUS face to face (1 John 3:2) we shall emerge beautiful butterflies conformed to the image of JESUS just like GOD the FATHER said (Romans 8:29).
But not everyone believes the Word of Life / JESUS and so can’t receive the HOLY SPIRIT. What happens to those who don’t come to JESUS and thereby enter into the cocoon?
Hell/ the lake of fire is where all who refuse to believe in JESUS go (Revelation 20:14-15). It is where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire.(Mark 9:48-49, Isaiah 66:24).
Salt here speak of struggles and we all (believers and unbelievers) have struggles. But if we believe in JESUS dying for our sins and rising for our justification our struggles produce for us and will end when we go be with JESUS when HE comes for us (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). Not so for the unbeliever whose worm dies not; whose constant hungers/ desires will continue throughout all eternity and never will the potential all squished up within them develop. Nor will they ever become what they were meant to be.
Now while adult butterflies are harmless and actually beneficial in pollination of flowers, their worms(larva) are often severe pests.
Has your worm died?
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 