The transformation a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly is very interesting. Although the DNA of both creatures are identical, the genes that are “turned on” and “turned off” are not the same. In the cocoon, the caterpillar’s organs and body essentially turn to goo in order to grow instead a completely new structure and body that does not even resemble the first. It almost goes through a death and rebirth, but also interestingly there are studies to show that the memory of being a caterpillar is still present in the butterfly.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come. Notice how it does not say the new is coming but instead is stated as “has come”, period. From the perspective of the butterfly, what if we saw ourselves as already a new creation? The renewing of our mind then becomes a manual on the things we already carry. How often do we look at the Lord and say we cannot live in hope and peace, share in boldness, pray for the sick to be healed etc feeling like He is asking the caterpillar to fly. Instead we actually already have the wings and just need to learn how to use them. Most of the memories a butterfly carries from their time as the caterpillar are irrelevant in the present as they eat, move, and hide in completely new ways. Some memories may even be detrimental if they hide from predators in the old way. It is time for us, as new creations, to live and walk in the new and not box ourselves in the old. What if we stop trying to become more holy caterpillars and instead learn to fly?