Butterflies From Heaven

Aren't butterflies pretty?
So colorful, so graceful. What a beautiful creation!

I always forget until I am reminded where butterflies came from. Caterpillars!!!
I have a question for you. How many of you look at a butterfly and say to yourselves "Look at that caterpillar that turned into a butterfly!" or do you say "Oh, look at the pretty butterfly!" Do you even remember that the butterfly used to be a caterpillar? I don't.

The caterpillar goes into it's cocoon and comes out a "new creation". Old things are passed away. All things become new. Sound familiar? Butterfly, the word does not even hint as to the fact that it was once a caterpillar. Once it is transformed it's former self is forgotten, it is a "new creature".

I was reading (again) the book Grace Walk which is about resting in Christ. The author first conveys that it is so important to first know who you are in Christ. He gives the analogy of the butterfly and the caterpillar. Each time I have gone back to this book and I see this it is just as powerful as the first time I read it. As humans why can't we accept this concept about ourselves? If you say you believe in the Bible then you must believe and grasp ahold of this truth. Once you have received Jesus into your heart, once you are born again, you become a new creature in Christ. Your old man is dead. Your sins are forgiven & you are loved. Period. Stop trying to remind God about what you used to be. He knows. He could care less. He's trying to take you to a better place but you have to be willing to go. We are butterflies!!! And we are beautiful, each in our own way.

I know a caterpillar who wants to be a butterfly but they are afraid to go into the cocoon. They don't want to take the time either for the change to begin. They just want to turn into the butterfly. Um, you can't do that I said. It is a process. So the caterpillar gets mad at me and stays a caterpillar. But it wants so badly to flutter with the other butterflies!

We are so silly. We are so busy dwelling on what we used to be or what we have done & feeling guilt and shame. Or we are so busy enjoying our lives and pleasures & lazy Sundays that it just seems like a big pain in the butt to become one of "those Christians". You know, "those Christians" who are always in Church and studying and praying and living blessed & happy lives. I don't want to go to Church!! I don't like reading the Bible!! Oh my, my little caterpillar. I love you so much & I used to be just like you. I wish I could help you. I can only just tell you that you have to come to Him & give him all of who you are. You must go into your cocoon & let Him transform you & who you are now will be dead. You will be a new creature & your former self will pass away. You will want to seek Him & you will find ways to study that don't seem so torturous to you. I think you need to drive to a mountain & cry out. Out loud. Let everything go & give it to Him. That might take awhile or He may do it in an instant. Just let Him do it!!

So I just wanted to remind myself that I am a beautiful butterfly. I have been transformed into a new creature. Christ lives in ME! The same anointing that was given to Moses is available to ME! What I have been, what I have done (even losing my temper with my kids!) does not keep God from being able to love me. The only thing that can keep the love of God from you life is YOU. Are you embracing your new creature? Forget what you once were, forget what mistakes you have made. Even last weeks errors. Repentance also involves forgiveness. Forgive and What??? That's right...... Forget. Because that's what God does. And we should be imitators of Him.

Now go fly!!!!!!!!!

I'm taking part of Melissa at www.theinspiredroom.net 's beautiful life series. Please visit her for some great posts from other wonderful bloggers.