Make me new

They’re ugly with their tubular, segmented bodies that often resemble plants.  They don’t have good vision and often only come out at night.  They are big trouble for farmers, as they cause enormous losses mainly by eating leaves.  

There are not too many redeeming qualities for a caterpillar.  Did you know caterpillar hair has even been known to be a cause of human health problems? 

But, there is something special about a caterpillar and it starts when it builds it’s cocoon.  That ugly, costly, dangerous creature with bad eyesight is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. (Ethan explains the process in the video below)

In Romans 12, Paul describes what it means to undergo transformation.

 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When we become Christians we take part in Christ’s death burial and resurrection, and we are raised to walk a new life with him.  Just like the caterpillar rids itself of its old skin, we put away our old self and live like Christ.  Christians are to undergo a complete change, which under the power of God will find expression in who we are and how we live.

Notice that Paul uses the passive voice (when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence) here in verse two when he talks about transformation.  This indicates that “transformation” is something we allow to be done to us, not something we do by our own power.  Instead, God’s power changes us.  

We become a new creation.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

In our sin, we start out uglier than that caterpillar. But what we become in Jesus Christ is more beautiful than anything we can imagine.

The words of the song “Make Me New” come to mind.

Make me new, Lord Jesus, make me new.

For it seems that in so many ways, I’m not enough like You.

Take this weary vessel I have been and mold me once again.

Change my heart. Change my spirit. Make me new.

Jesus leads the way in this race and the only way to gain the prize is to be transformed. The only place we can find that transformation is through the blood of Jesus Christ.