Metamorphosis of Life

Observing the beautiful butterfly fluttering around, I can’t help but reflect upon its short life span & the time I used to spend my effort collecting them as a hobby. Now I would say what a foolish pleasure that was & never had any realization of a wasteful destruction of life! Nor did I realize of its great significance & perspective on life.

Rajah Brooke Butterflies

Observe how an ‘ugly’ caterpillar undergoes its metamorphosis to become a beautiful butterfly. This is how nature prepares itself for the wild life outside. It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly and face its life ahead. Its struggling gives the butterfly the edge for survival. In time, God makes all things beautiful provided we are patient to wait.

It is a verified truism that the best steel must go through tremendous heat and pressure. Precious metals such as gold and silver must similarly be refined to attain its preciousness and beauty. A hero is not necessarily an extraordinary person but one who’s able to withstand great perils and danger. He is undoubtedly one who’s made of sterner stuff. Freedom fighters live and die fighting for a cause greater than life itself. Inevitably, there is a price to be paid.

Life is not a bed of roses. Amidst the beauty lies thorns that prick. Apart from the ups and downs in life, there are twists and turns as well. Sometimes it does seem that God is far away and unloving – allowing endless problems and hardship in our lives. This is how the Lord prepares us to fulfil His purposes. Trust in the Lord always. Follow Him with an upright heart and He’ll make our life an instrument in His hand.

Biblically, we only need to look at the lives of Moses and David to understand having faith and total obedience in God for the outcome. You cannot expect to remain where you are and go with God. Adjustments and sacrifices need to be made just like Noah (Genesis 6), Abram (Genesis 12:1-8), Jonah (Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2; 4:1-11) as with the apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John. The question is: Quo Vadis? God will never give us an assignment that He will not enable us to complete. Are you prepared for the challenge?

Paul Chong