Metamorphosis

          I recently saw a banana taped to a wall with duct tape. It was passed off as “art.” Unfortunately, that piece of so called art didn't last very long. Based upon that example, I might be considered to be an artist, but not really. My examples of art would be considered to be very primitive but not to the standards of Grandma Moses. I have tried painting and even a bit of sculpting but the results are almost humorous. Supposedly a sculptor once commented on how to create a horse out of stone and he simply said that he removed everything that didn't look like a horse. Sounds simple to us. There is a process that is going on right now in the life of every believer. Romans 12:1-2 says, “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

         I recently mentioned the fact of being transformed from Second Corinthians 3;18. The Romans passage is the only other use of the word outside of the Gospels mentioning it in the Mount of Transfiguration. For the believer, the process doesn't end on this side of glory but is a continual process that goes on throughout your whole life. The word that is used in both the Corinthian and Romans passage is “metamorphosis. The definition is “a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.” The common examples in nature can be seen in the process of the butterfly. The worm goes into a cocoon and a butterfly emerges after a period of time. The Apostle Paul used this word in both the Romans and Corinthian passage to explain what is going on in the life of believers today. The Corinthian passage tells us what is happening and the Romans passage tells us where it is happening. I don't look any different when I look in the mirror yet there are transformations going on that I don't see and they are going on because of my focus in the Word of God. As I behold the glory of the Lord in His Word, I am being renewed in my mind. When will it all be complete? As Paul mentioned to the church at Philippi in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” In the meantime, while I am living here on this earth in this body, I still look forward to being “perfect” but that won't come until I arrive in glory. My physical and mental imperfections still haunt me day by day as I often fail to see the changes that are gradually taking place dependent upon my immersing myself in the Word of God. We have begun a new year in which we think we are beginning with a clean slate. We perhaps have set certain goals and may already find it difficult to make a worthwhile change in our lives. The process of the pursuit of holiness is not an easy one but we should be steadfast in our desire to have change. Some catechisms mention that the chief purpose of man is to know God and to enjoy His presence forever. Well, that pretty well sums it up and it is a life long process in our transformation as challenged by the Apostle Paul. Praise God today that He is still working in each and every one of us.