No, I don’t have a degree in nature study but Jesus Christ often employed nature to illustrate biblical truths. And just like our Savior, we too shall be turning to nature to illustrate our topic today. For that, we turn to the caterpillar and the butterfly. We consider these two creatures because we want to avoid a scenario where regular churchgoers wind up in hell.
When you consider the caterpillar, your skin may crawl and you go ugh! It is a particularly creepy-crawly bug and I call it a bug because I do not know whether it is an insect or an animal. There is a specific reason I mention that aspect of my ignorance. You cannot be sure of the spiritual standing of so many in the church. Just like you cannot be sure that the bat is a bird or an animal, you find it hard to know. Are these church attendees Christians or are they simply warming the pew?
Jesus, in referencing this uncertainty, complained about those in the church who think they are doing fine with God. In Revelation 3:16, Jesus says: So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you. Does that not sound like something you would say if somebody should suggest that you eat a caterpillar? You feel like retching.
Unfortunately, that is exactly how God feels about the caterpillars among us. On the contrary, consider how you would love a butterfly. And yet, the caterpillar has a chance to become that beautiful butterfly. That is why we must consider what the difference is between the caterpillar and the butterfly, with God’s help.
The Caterpillar Loves Its Life
But before we consider that, I imagine that the caterpillar is quite satisfied with its life as it is. You can also imagine that many people in the church are quite satisfied with their lives. The caterpillar does not know of the existence of a better life as a butterfly and so, it misses nothing. In the same way, many people in the church do not know of a better life and are therefore quite happy.
But in His mercy, God programmed the caterpillar to transform into a butterfly. Naturally, once it becomes a butterfly, it will look back on its caterpillar life with disgust. It is the same with humans. When God shows a man mercy and saves his soul, such a man will look back on his former life with disgust.
The Apostle Paul did; he suddenly appreciated the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly. He famously said, if a man be in Christ, he is a new creature. In other words, he is as different from his old self as the caterpillar is from the butterfly. Friend, if you cannot look back on your past life with disgust, perhaps you have never left that life. It is possible you are not yet truly in Christ even if you are in the church.
Most of us would take offense at that concept but the bible is quite clear. Our old life must fill us with repugnance or else, we may still be at the caterpillar stage. Don’t forget, the caterpillar was happy even before it had a chance to become a butterfly. It did not know any better and that brings us to our next point.
Mercy Is The Difference Between The Caterpillar and The Butterfly
God could have left the caterpillar in that state but in His mercy, he programmed a butterfly into its life cycle. Similarly, in His mercy, God saw the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly and wanted something better for us. In His mercy, He sent Jesus to die for us so that we can come out of our caterpillar existence. It is His mercy and kindness that brought us salvation.
And salvation is the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly. God did not have to save us. He was God all by Himself and even after we messed up in the Garden, He remained God. But His bowels of mercy would not let Him leave us in our fallen (caterpillar) state. Just like He did for the caterpillar, He programmed salvation for us through Jesus.
Unless you fully grasp this concept, you will not understand some verses in the bible. Take Ephesians 2.8 for example. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. As you already know, grace is similar to mercy. But unless you know that mercy is the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly, you scoff.
You wonder why the passage calls it a gift that you responded to an altar call somewhere. After all, you are the one who came forward. Seriously? It is the grace of God that moved your heart to respond and your feet to move. Please note that we are speaking here of a real conversion, like the one between the caterpillar and the butterfly. We are not referring to what many people do of simply going through the motions.
Transformation Differentiates Between The Caterpillar And The Butterfly
At best, that would make you a beautifully decorated caterpillar, even after you go through a course of Christian study. We can consider such motions and training as reformation, decorating the caterpillar but remaining a caterpillar. To become a butterfly, there is a need for transformation. Unfortunately, not many people in the church experience a real transformation.
They remain spiritual caterpillars, well-trained, well-ordained but still caterpillars. Unless a transformation – which is not training-based, takes place, one cannot experience the fullness of life promised in Christ Jesus. The caterpillar cannot become a butterfly. Transformation becomes the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly. If that transformation does not take place, the person – Pope or Bishop – is not a new creature.
Don’t Remain A Spiritual Caterpillar
Therein lies the mystery; if you are loving your present life, how do you know to ask God for a better life? You don’t know. However, as you sincerely seek God through the diligent study of His word, He decides to show you mercy. You go from caterpillar to butterfly. That is when you look back and echo Paul because all things become new.
If anyone tells you they knew what they were missing before becoming new creatures, don’t listen to them. In order not to remain a caterpillar Christian, simply ask God for His mercy. God will change you from the worm to the beautiful creature. Only when that happens will you appreciate the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly.
Maranatha!
