As we approach October, more and more orange and black butterflies flit by without a care in the world. These beautiful creatures are aptly termed Monarchs and they certainly reign as some of the most stunning insects in existence.
What many do not realize is the incredible complexity built into these seemingly simple creatures. Like all butterflies, Monarchs begin as eggs which hatch into caterpillars. During this stage they munch exclusively on milkweed leaves and grow from small hatchlings to full grown larvae in roughly two weeks. During this flightless stage, there is nothing to resemble the future regal appearance of the eventual adults.
What happens next is truly miraculous. A lowly worm with sixteen feet begins to hang upside down and somehow knows to encase itself in its green chrysalis while a spectacular transformation begins within.
Externally there is no evidence of any action but internally the plump worm is completely disassembled and reassembled into a totally different creature. In only ten days a mature gorgeous butterfly emerges that is no longer earthbound but can now wing its way from flower to flower to feed on their sweet nectar.
Although scientists have termed this process metamorphosis, meaning transformation, they still have little clue as to how it really happens. Someone has described this phenomenon as a Model T building its own garage and emerging in less than two weeks as a fully functioning helicopter.
This is akin to the popular Transformer movies only much more complex, self-directed, and entirely real. Each change in shape, construction, mobility, diet, and digestion is nothing short of momentous individually, but combined with all the others, this process is truly wonder-full.
If this miracle were not enough to convince someone of the Monarchs’ infinitely wise Designer, the unexplainable generational differences certainly should. For although most Monarchs survive only 2-6 weeks before laying eggs and dying, every fourth generation, born about now, will survive 6-8 months, migrate to Mexico for the winter before flying north again to start the cycle over next spring.
What triggers a 1500 percent increase in lifespan? What prompts this particular generation to fly south thousands of miles? How do the millions of Monarchs all find their way to the same mountain ridges even though none of them have ever been there before? You can call it instinct, but that steals glory that belongs to their Creator. He is the One who programed these miniature miracles to do all this.
Metamorphosis defies evolution for Darwinists have no explanation how this process begins with an end in mind. It could never evolve gradually for partial transformation would result in total failure. A three month extended lifespan would result in catastrophic specie collapse. Each aspect of this insect had to be there from the beginning in order for it to thrive and survive.
Crediting Mother Nature with this attempts to avoid Father God and His morality. If He fearfully and wonderfully made them, He also made us in the same way and knows how we best function. And although butterflies don’t have freewill to make their own moral choices, we do and are to honor and obey the God who made us both.
Perhaps God fashioned the Monarchs to illustrate the change that He desires in us. In Romans 12:2, Paul writes, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The Greek word Paul uses here is metamorphosis.
Again in 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul speaks of being transformed into Jesus’ likeness and uses the same Greek word again. Some say this happens instantly when a person is saved, but that’s just the beginning. Changing from a believer into a mature faithful disciple is a lifelong process. The verb tense used in these passages implies ongoing development, not a one and done event. A more literal translation might be, “continue to let yourself be transformed.”
God’s beautiful Monarch can teach us much about ourselves and our growth in Jesus. May we praise the Creator of this butterfly as He, the Ultimate Monarch, transforms us incrementally into the likeness of Jesus.
Blessings, George