Metamorphosis

In our family the process of becoming a butterfly has been up close and personnel for a few weeks now. It has really made me start thinking a lot of the process that they go through to become the beautiful butterfly.

It is amazing to me how they start out as a tiny egg no bigger than a mustard seed. They are laid on the plant that they will need to eat when they hatch. This plant is called a host plant and a lot of the butterfly's carry that name with them. Take for example the Pipevine Swallowtail. The plant that they lay their eggs on is called the Pipevine. When they finally hatch from their egg they are very small and immediately begin devouring their host plant. With in days they have gotten fat on their plant and go in search for somewhere to attach themselves and begin their change.

The larvae starts by attaching its bottom with some silk to the place that it has chosen to make its change. Then it proceeds to spin a silken lifeline that is also attached, around the upper portion of its body so that during its process of change it will not fall. After a brief period of rest it begins to wiggle back and forth and sheds the outer layer of skin revealing a chrysalis. Then he waits.

After a couple of weeks the chrysalis splits on the top and the butterfly emerges. He cannot fly when he first comes out. His wing are wet and limp. In his abdomen is a special fluid that pumps into the veins of his wings and hardens. He stretches his wings and begins to flap them so they will dry and stiffen up. Then he fly's away free.

This reminds me of the process that we go through to be free in Christ. When we are told of Christ a tiny little seed is laid in our hearts. Our host is Christ and his word. If we spend the time to devour our host, to study him and read his word we will grow fat in Christ and we will take on His name. As the caterpillar attaches a lifeline, so we must attach a lifeline from our hearts to our father in heaven. If we keep that lifeline intact we will not fall. When we have ourselves connected we will begin the final change.

Just as the caterpillar completely submitted himself to the will of the creator, we too must give ourselves completely up to his will. We must shed the old self and take on the new. As the chrysalis protected so also the filling of our hearts with Him will protect us. There will be no room for Satan. In time we will emerge perfect in Christ, we will be filled with His love and will take to the sky, free.