METAMORPHISMS

Unlike anthropomorphisms where something changes form for a specific time and reason, when metamorphisms take place, there is no going back. Metamorphisms are complete changes from one state of being to another. "Metamorphism" comes from the Greek meta which has many meanings, one of which is "self," and morphe meaning changing from one form to another. The best known example of metamorphosis is the Monarch Butterfly. The Monarch begins as an egg, hatches into a larva (caterpillar), builds a cocoon in which it becomes a pupa (chrysalis) until it frees itself as a butterfly. The lifespan of a Monarch Butterfly is about three months. No one knows how the Monarch is able to migrate up to 2500 miles from its place of origin, but due to their short lifespan, the trip is certainly one-way. The travelers in the spring and those in the fall are a lot like Abraham; they go where God directs them by faith.

It would be nice if we could describe the new birth as a metamorphosis, but unfortunately, the born-again Christian too often resembles the person prior to the change. When the Church began on the Pentecost following Christ's Ascension, the lives of Christians were so radically changed that the cowards who ran from those who arrested Jesus, were boldly standing on the corners of Jerusalem, in the temple, and in the synagogues proclaiming the Gospel. They were a changed people. Because the early Church recognized the life of Jesus as a pattern for faithfulness, they were known as "people of the way" (Jn. 14:6; Acts 9:1-2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22). They are described as "having favor with all the people" (Acts 2:47). The goal of every Christian was to become as Christ-like as possible.

That certainly is not the case today. The world, seeing idiots protesting at the funerals of our fallen military heroes and others proclaiming to the whole world that they intend to burn the Quran (Koran), thinks Christians are filled with hate. It hasn't been so long ago that so called "Christians," known as the K.K.K., were lynching human beings for "being uppity." With the Roman Catholic scandal of pedophile priests and the cover-up, people like Jim Jones, Jimmy Swaggert, James Baker, etc., it is no wonder that the name of Christ is nothing more than a curse word on television. Twisting the Word of God has always been the work of Satan (Gen. 3:1-5; Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 4:14; Rev. 20:8). Jesus spoke of these men (and women) as being "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matt. 7:15).

Just as false teachers can be recognized by carefully "checking their fruit," true believers are to be recognized by their fruit (Matt. 7:15-20; Gal. 5:22-25). We are living in the time of the Church of Laodicea and apostasy is characteristic of the modern church (Rev. 3:14-22; Lk. 8:18; 2 Tim. 3:1-8). The world needs to see genuine believers living their lives for Christ. There is not much time left to win souls for Him, and unless we appear as "butterflies" ("pollinating" with the Word of God) instead of "caterpillars" (consuming everything in our path), there is little hope for the lost. God help us!