Kids of Faith Online Magazine

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” – Richard Bach

The transformation that occurs during the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly is truly incredible. In case you’re not familiar with this process, let me tell you more:

After a butterfly egg hatches, it’s called the butterfly larva, more commonly known as the caterpillar. The caterpillar spends most of its time in search of food, and grows rapidly over the course of the larva cycle. It only stops eating when it is ready to enter the pupa stage.

At this point, the caterpillar now wanders around, seeking out a place for it to begin its transformation. Often it will be the underside of a leaf. Once a decent place is found, the caterpillar attaches itself to the leaf by its back legs which are specifically created for this purpose. There, the caterpillar will molt for the final time. The skin underneath is soft and wet, and it will harden into the pupa’s chrysalis.

The species of butterfly determines how long the pupa will be inactive. In some cases, like the monarch butterfly, the transformation period can last about two weeks, but others can last for months or even years. Once the pupa stage is complete, the insect is ready to emerge. The change that occurred while the caterpillar was inside the chrysalis is drastic. What was once an ugly, wrinkled caterpillar has become a strikingly beautiful butterfly.

This wonderful creation process can be compared to what happens when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Like caterpillars, we were once rooted in sin and concerned only about ourselves. But once we became believers, God transformed us into a stunning new creation. He set us free from our sinful nature and gave us wings to fly.

You’ve probably heard the verse in 2 Corinthians that says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Nothing could demonstrate this more clearly than the butterfly. I believe God gave us this metaphor so we could gain a greater understanding of the depth of His love.

Another comparison we can reap from this is that this life is not all there is. Our life here is so short, like the caterpillar’s life span. Once God calls us home, our bodies will only be empty shells, like the chrysalis. Our spirit, which could be contrasted to the butterfly, will endure and live with God for eternity. This promise, and others that God offers to us in His Word, are magnificent beyond measure. I recently found this quote by Matthew Henry and really liked it: “If Christ be ours, all things, one way or another, shall be for our eternal good. The man who is a new creature in Christ, may rejoice in all the precious promises God has spoken in His Holiness.”

The best part is that our transformation is still underway. God is continuing to fulfill His plan for us in our lives. He’s guiding us, watching us, and working in and through us. This is evidenced in 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

If you want more scientific details about this unique creature, you can read more about the monarch butterfly in my other article. Catey also offers another perspective on a topic similar to this in Growing in God. As always, I hope that this issue will be a beautiful reminder of the amazing work God is doing in you.

Heaven–Don’t Miss It for the World

Maybe some of this is striking a chord within you, and you would like this transformation, but aren’t sure how to get it. It’s simple, really. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Everyone is a sinner. The penalty for sin is death. But Jesus died a horrible death on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to. He was perfect, yet He suffered for our sin. By His grace, we have the gift of salvation that’s free to all who accept it.

So how do we accept this gift? Well, if you “confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). You could pray something like this:

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross in my place. I ask you to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I accept your salvation and I thank you for washing away my sins. I love you, Amen.

If you pray that prayer, or something like it, guess what? You’re clean. You’ve been washed by the saving blood of Jesus and the Enemy has no claim on you anymore. You have the assurance of not having to taste the bitterness of death, but instead you will go to heaven to live with God for eternity.  You’re now a member of God’s family, since He’s adopted you and called you His own.You are a new creation.

Now that you’ve been saved, the next thing to do is take some steps to grow in your faith. See if you can start reading your Bible on a regular basis. The Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), are some of my favorite choices because they chronicle the life and sacrifice of Jesus. By all means, please talk to your parents, so they can also share in your decision. Also, remember that Jesus is always listening, and He wants to hear from you. If you’re not sure where to begin,  just start talking to Him about anything and everything that’s on your heart. This will build your relationship with Him in ways that otherwise couldn’t be possible.

If you feel so led, we’d like to hear from you about what God’s doing in your life. Or if you need prayer, we would love to hear your requests. You can send an email to us at kidsoffaith [at] gmail [dot] com.

Since you prayed the prayer, the angels are rejoicing in heaven. You’ve been born anew. You’re truly a new creation. Congratulations! Your transformation has begun.