Be Transformed

Romans 12:2 "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Being transformed involves a complete change from who we were before Christ to becoming more like Christ daily. A caterpillar builds a chrysalis and spends some time going through such a transformation. It begins to look differently. It begins to feel differently, and eventually it will act differently, it even changes its diet. The old caterpillar is still in there somewhere, but every part of it is changed. When it emerges from its chrysalis it will be a new creature.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

When the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis it is totally a new creature.  It is exactly the way it will stay for the remainder of its life.  We, however, are daily becoming more like Christ.  This is called sanctification.  Webster defines sanctification as: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.  Our transformation will not be complete until we reach heaven; however, we must be daily growing to be more like Jesus.

The way we look will change. We will be walking in joy. We will have a smile where a frown once hung. Romans 12:11 (RSV) “Be aglow with the Spirit.”

We will begin the think differently.  Caterpillars are ground dwellers that are stuck on their stomach their entire life.  Butterflies soar above the trees and glide on the wind.  They have a new perspective on life after emerging from the chrysalis. They see things from a different vantage point.  We too will have a different perspective as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds.  Romans 12:2, says “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” We will begin to think like Christ, to see things as he sees them.  1 Corinthians 2:16 says, "for, Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." 

We will also act differently.   Ephesians 4:21-24 "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." 

When we begin to be transformed even our “diet” changes.  The caterpillar eats a diet made up entirely of vegetation.  Different species eat different leaves, but they all eat leaves.  They devour as much as they can to sustain them during their time of transformation inside the chrysalis.  We too must change our “diet.” The things we put into our minds through what we see, hear, and experience must change.  We may have to let go of ungodly relationships, change our “hangout” spots (i.e. the bar for Starbucks), change what we watch on T.V. and the movies, the music we listen to, etc.  The old adage “You are what you eat” applies here.  If we are constantly having a diet of ungodly language and sexual content on T.V., movies, or music, we will not have renewed minds.  Those things will come out of our hearts.  The Word tells us that, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Matthew 12:34b

Transformation is often painful.  Paul Whalley, in his book, Butterfly & Moth, states that, “Inside the chrysalis, the body of the caterpillar is broken down, special cells take over the insect’s development, and gradually the adult is formed.”  I am not sure, but “broken down” sounds like death to the caterpillar so the butterfly can be formed.  The same holds true for our spiritual man.  Romans 8:13 (NIV) “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” 

The caterpillar has an inborn nature to spin a cocoon, or build a chrysalis.  It doesn’t have to think about it.  It just does what comes naturally.  We too have an inborn nature that longs to be like Christ.  We were created in the image of God.  Genesis 1: 26a “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” 

We must abandon ourselves into the loving hands of the creator and allow him to change us into what he intended for us to become.  The caterpillar doesn’t have a choice about becoming a butterfly; it becomes what it was designed to be.  We can choose not to allow God to transform our lives into his grand design; however, the consequences are more painful than the transformation process itself.  

If we want to know God’s will for our lives, we must allow him to mold and shape us as he intends. Romans 12:2 says “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."  If his will for us is good and pleasing and perfect, the implication is that living outside of that will is the opposite or at least not as good, pleasing, or perfect. 

Let us abandon ourselves into the hands of our loving, kind, patient, Father and allow him to transform us into who he planned for us to be.  

All Scripture is NLT, unless otherwise stated.