At my home we decided to order "the cup" of caterpillars from the online website called insectlore. This would be so fun because as a family, we could watch these caterpillars change into butterflies. So, with this science experiment I personally was very excited for the kids. I learned later on, I was almost more excited than the kids...
After we received the cup of caterpillars in the mail, I could feel my anxiety heighten because these creature's lives were now in my hands- literally. I took the cup and placed them into my child's room in a safe place and we all enjoyed watching them wiggle and move around. (for about 5 minutes-haha)
I started a journal for the kids and everyday we would look at the little tiny caterpillars and write updates on what they were doing. We talked about their changes and what we thought would happen soon.
The changes started after a couple weeks- they grew larger and fatter. They slowed down in movement, they climbed their way to the top of the cup where they hung down making their "J" shape. Then it was time to transfer them to the large netted butterfly home I had bought for my daughter. After I pinned the disc with all the "J" shaped caterpillars onto the side we waited with an excitement to see the butterflies emerge. Days passed and we waited. I thought about what was happening to the inside of these little creatures. Then I read a paragraph from a website about the changes that were happening to the caterpillars, out loud to the kids:
"The transformation itself is amazing. Think of it as recycling -- if you drop a plastic bottle off in the recycling bin, it can be melted down into an entirely different shape. This is what happens inside the chrysalis. Much of the body breaks itself down into imaginal cells, which are undifferentiated -- like stem cells, they can become any type of cell. The imaginal cells put themselves back together into a new shape. A few parts of the body, such as the legs, are more or less unchanged during this process".
Wow. The insides of caterpillars change, they liquefy. They break down and are made into a whole new insect. The DNA changes. It is a total transformation! It made me think of this verse from the bible in
2 Corinthians 5:17-Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, and the new has come."
Our creator God, has made the caterpillar change from an ugly little caterpillar that can only crawl on the ground to a beautiful, colorful butterfly that can fly in the air and surround itself with beautiful colorful flowers in the light of the warm sun.
As we are born into this world, we have a gift. We have a choice to make. We can accept the free gift that God offers to us- his gift of salvation.
He is willing to take our old sinful nature and transform us into something better- something stronger and more amazing by the grace of his love! He wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to transform us by filling us with his Holy spirit and rebuilding us back with the love he can only provide. The joy and the love only He can put into our hearts.
God is our creator, and he loves us. He wants us to be like the beautiful butterfly that can fly in the air, and be bold and bright. He wants us to see the beauty in the bright colorful flowers. He wants us to enjoy all the beauty in his creation. This is a gift that if offered to you.
Do you want to change and leave the ugly past behind? Do you want to let go of your guilt of sin and know that you have a father in heaven who forgives you? Do you want to start a new life that will lead you to happiness and love- one that has a promise of eternal life with Christ?
Take the gift He offers to you if you haven't- The transformation you experience in the walk of Christianity is amazing. Its not always easy, just as the caterpillars have a long journey, they have to work hard and its exhausting in times. But God provides the times of rest for the caterpillars, and he will for you as well.
Our God is a perfect God, one who loves more than we can ever imagine- one who is merciful, forgiving and awesome. This is the God who has a plan for your life, and wants you to know and trust Him in all you do. He will be your redeemer- he will transform your life!
