There’s a miracle happening in my kitchen.
My daughter found a caterpillar in the driveway the other day. She decked out a mason jar with rocks and twigs and leaves and brought him inside. We fully intended to let him go after a brief visit, but he had other ideas in mind. He spun a cocoon and made himself comfortable for an extended stay. Google says he might be here all winter.
From the outside, it doesn’t look like there’s anything alive in the jar. But inside that cocoon, away from prying eyes, there’s a transformation taking place. That little caterpillar is changing into something entirely different. Not just a new and improved version of itself, but a completely new creation.
And you know what? It’s a messy process. The caterpillar liquefies. Yes, that’s right. It becomes caterpillar soup. If you’ve ever seen a butterfly emerge from its cocoon, you may have noticed drops of reddish-brown liquid. That’s called meconium and it’s the leftover part of the caterpillar that the butterfly didn’t need anymore. From this melted glop, a butterfly forms. A butterfly! Colors and patterns. Delicate wings and antennae. Absolutely nothing like its former self.
The Bible says that “those who become Christians become new person. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Several translations use the phrase “if anyone is in Christ”. The word chrysalis refers to a protective covering, a sheltered state. What if when we enter into a relationship with Christ, He becomes our protective covering, a safe place to be a mess and to be made new?
Like the caterpillar, believers in Christ undergo a complete metamorphosis. We don’t melt, but there may be days when we feel like a soggy wreck. Maybe that’s just part of the process. There are things that need to be changed, and there are things that need to be gotten rid of, that we don’t need any longer. “There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness – righteous, holy, and true” (Ephesians 4:23-24).
So if you feel like you’re caterpillar soup, take heart. Miracles can happen in your kitchen too. This isn’t the end – it’s just the beginning. There’s a whole lot of good stuff happening under the shelter of One who loves you. And when it’s finished, just think of the beauty that will be revealed.