We can be sure that God smiles about his creation. Why? Because the creation is so wonderful and so full of surprises. Take for example the caterpillar. It is a funny little creature that moves very slowly on plants, and does nothing but eat; no playing, no running, and that always seeks protection from its enemies in the shade of leaves. Some days later, as if tired of living a worthless life, it spins a cocoon with strings of a sticky liquid from its mouth and buries itself completely in it. But then, a week or more later, it makes a hole in the cocoon, and reappears as a new being – a butterfly. It stretches its beautifully coloured wings and flies into the woods, up to the tree-tops and then down again to the flowers, playfully as if filled with joy. The caterpillar changed into a butterfly which plays and dances with other butterflies in the sun.
We all crawl around sometimes like caterpillars. We are unhappy, feeling worthless, never satisfied with what we have, and then we are also unpleasant to others. Why can’t we be free and “fly” with joy like the butterflies? The good news is that God in all his goodness wants to transform us into new beings. He wants us to play, to enjoy the life He has given us. He wants us to enjoy peace and make other people happy. He gives the butterflies wings to fly, and the birds a voice to sing. God wants to give us more because He loves us so much. We can escape our “cocoon” when we accept God’s merciful redemption, submit ourselves to Christ and allow Him to direct our lives: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).
God changes hardened murderers into people who spread the gospel. He transforms drug addicts into people who sacrifice their lives to help others fight drug abuse. He turns cruel gangsters into motivational speakers. He heals relationships that have been embittered for many years.
God is your Creator who wants to give you a new life. He saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us (Tit. 3:5). In life hereafter we shall be transformed fully, and be with God eternally. He (God) will change our weak, mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body (Phil. 3:21).
Lord, rid us of the cocoon of sin that limits us. Free us to enjoy the life You want to give us. Amen.
