The Heart of a Butterfly
Inside every caterpillar is the heart of a butterfly. One day, the caterpillar stops crawling around with his friends and instead goes by himself to a twig or leaf, hangs upside down, and spins himself a silky cocoon or molts into a shiny chrysalis. Within its protective casing, God radically transforms the caterpillar. Breakthrough happens and it emerges as a butterfly or moth capable of flitting above earth’s confines and goes places a caterpillar could never go. God knew it’s potential, and the lowly caterpillar becomes everything God created him to be.
People are just like this caterpillar. For example: Rahab. How many of us would have chosen this unlikely candidate to be an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5)? Her story is told in Joshua chapter two. She was the prostitute who hid the two spies sent to check out the city of Jericho before it was destroyed. However, God saw something beautiful and deep within her: potential for greatness.
As a captive woman from an enemy nation, Rahab had to separate herself for a period of time and observe the guidelines established by God (Deut. 21:10-14) before she could become the wife of Salmon. It takes time to really know God and His Word and allow Him to transform us into what He created us to be.
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient [unbelieving]” (Heb. 11:31). “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” (James 2:25). These two Scriptures show us the faith and works of Rahab as well as the love and grace of God in her life.
And who would have ever imagined that the murderous Saul was destined to become the world changer known as the Apostle Paul? God knew Saul’s potential and purpose when no one else had a clue. But it took time following his conversion, time spent alone in God’s presence, learning and growing in Christlikeness, and discovering God’s plan for his life. Time spent in God’s presence equals transformation. Paul explains his conversion and time spent with God (three years) before going to Jerusalem to meet Peter and James, the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:11-24).
Does the heart of a butterfly reside within you? Are you aware that Almighty God created you for a greater purpose, one that will point others to Jesus Christ and bring Him glory and honor? God knows your potential and reason for being better than you. Perhaps an extended time alone with God and His Word, humbling yourself at His feet, and seeking His face are in order. Then get away from the crowd of crawling, ground-hugging, laggard influencers, and spend time with God in intimate communion. Get to know the One who created you, why He created you, and what He created you to do. You have the heart of a butterfly.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17).
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Rom. 6:4).
“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life’” (Acts 5:19-20).