True Transformation

Damselflies are the beautiful, generally more delicate cousins of dragonflies. Yet even some damselflies are known to pluck spiders from off their webs. The easiest way to distinguish damselflies from their relatives is resting wing position; damselflies fold their wings over their backs, while dragonflies can’t.

The favored hunting space of dragonflies is near ponds, swamps, and streams – where so many flies, mosquitoes, and other harmful insects thrive. Dragonflies put their aerial abilities to good use, doing much to keep the populations of these disease-spreading swarms in check.  Incredible use – they can eat the equivalent of their body weight in 30 minutes.  Few and lucky are targeted insects that escape.  Damselflies do a similar job, though they seem to prefer hunting overflowing streams.

The majority of a dragonfly or damselfly’s life is not spent as a beautiful aerialist.  After hatching, they generally spend between six months and two years as a rather ugly, though well-camouflaged nymph.  Some spend six years in this stage.  Though they are well-equipped underwater predators, they’re simply not the beauties they were meant to be.

Many people have been born and raised as Christians.  They may faithfully go to church and fulfill other requirements, but when it comes down to it, their experience is rather meaningless.  Their experience lacks the life and power that the Bible tells us that people had.  Many try to mask this fact with rousing worship music and lively events.  But the life-changing power that let Paul and Silas sing while in prison (after a beating, and while in stocks) is sadly lacking.

Just like the worst criminals, every person, no matter how good they seem, needs a true conversion experience.  Just like a larval dragonfly needs to crawl out of the pond it has called home and shed the nymph body it has relied on for so long, each person needs to be “born again”.

One of the most respected teachers in first-century Israel came to Jesus for some insight.  Jesus frankly told him that unless one is born again, he can’t experience the kingdom of God.  Then Jesus told him the most profound truth that there is: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)

Let me try to add some perspective.  The three beings who are God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) loved the people of this rebellious planet (you and me who by nature want to reject, even hate, God) that they sent one of themselves (Jesus, the Son) to us.  Jesus didn’t come in His kingly power – he lived as a poor man of the working class.  At the age of thirty, He left His humble home, and for three and a half years He did His very best to reveal God’s character to the people around Him.  This involved whole nights in prayer, many tiring journeys on foot, and a whole lot of rejection – even persecution – from people who pretended to be perfect (even when proven wrong).

Jesus’ love for you and me led Him to choose these countless hardships over the easy-out the devil offered Him.  He conquered the absolute worst of trials and temptations, even though He was bound by the weakness of humanity (Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:15).  His love for us caused Him to submit to the most painful death known to man, even though He could have instantaneously freed Himself with a single prayer (Matthew 26:53).  And though this all happened nearly two thousand years ago, He’s still not done.  “He always lives to make intercession” for anyone who’s willing to come to Him (Hebrews 7:25).

God won’t force us to “love” Him.  True love can’t be forced; it must be developed through experience – intimate knowledge.  God invites us to develop this experience.  We accept this invitation by inviting Him to work in our lives, then getting to know Him through prayerful Bible study.  God promises His personal help – through the Holy Spirit – in this relationship.  With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can also learn much about God by observing His creation – such as dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies…

As we get to know God, we’ll learn to love Him more and more – for His character more than for His power.  We’ll see His goodness, even in places where we formerly saw only wrath or apathy.  Seeing God’s goodness is what leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).  And the repentant – those who feel their need of God – are the ones God can work with.

A very helpful book that has helped many people develop a personal relationship with God in Step to Christ.  You can read or listen to it online at http://steps-to-christ.org