Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
Only the butterfly has such a complete metamorphosis. Only via Jesus can humans achieve such a dramatic change.
God’s Logic is incomprehensible to our human sense of the same. In fact, it is incorrect for me to even use the term “God’s Logic” because the word “logic” is a human term describing what is supposed to be the highest of human intellectual achievement. When we try to apply our “logic” to God, that is when many scientists thus declare themselves atheists. These scientists say, “If I cannot understand something it thus must not be true, after all I am brilliant scientist and thus the best and smartest people on the planet.”
That leads me to the subject of this blog. You can both admire something for how well it works, but also think that it seems to be more steps than logically necessary. The development of a butterfly is indeed a wonder, so many steps so intricately ordered and integrated. Yet, why go through all of that? Why not just be born a baby butterfly like a baby bird or other baby insects. There are other insects such as grasshoppers have what is referred to as simple metamorphosis that change from birth to adult, but only butterflies have such a dramatic complete metamorphosis.
Strict evolutionists think everything happens in a kind of efficient random progress, that just needs enough time to create very complex things. These efficient changes are occurring using human logic via natural selection, a way for complicated things to happen without a creator or design. Basically, everything is looking to survive so adapts logically to do so. Everything is efficient and if not, it will cease to exist. Why are some animals beautiful? Simply to attract mates and those who attract the most mates will propagate and thrive.
And then there is the butterfly. Yes, scientists can determine the different steps from larvae to butterfly. This are what is referred to as proximate causes. This happens because of that, very logical. But that is different than ultimate causes- WHY even happens in the first place, why done the way it is. Proximate causes are often able to be tested via science and research. Ultimate causes, however, cannot usually be tested experimentally.
So, there is the science of the butterfly, mostly a proximate endeavor. But “WHY”? Why go through so many unnecessarily complex steps, why a complete metamorphosis that requires so many steps instead of just born with what are or what needs and then grow up? Wouldn’t that make more “logical” sense? What scientist would invent a butterfly, even if he or she could? The more complex the more can go wrong, the more programming needs to be done. Why so much in human terms “excess” engineering?
Butterflies in many cultures represent transformation, freedom, and rebirth. These cultures include China, Japan, Native Americans, Mexico, Europe, Egypt and throughout Christianity. Why such a fascination and why so similar across the word? I believe it is because it is God’s way of speaking to us all about our possible transformation. Look at how mundane a butterfly looks in its original forms. No one could predict the elaborate mystical beauty that it will become.
Is this mystical metaphor for life and transformation something rare? No. Butterflies are on every continent except Antarctica, with some 18,500 species. Thus, God has given us a symbol that is readily available, miracles all around us. Showing what we can become via faith. Why do we not see it as a miracle, but reduce down to scientific steps with “logical” explanation? Because it is common. Miracles must be like ones in the Bible with Jesus raising someone from the dead. Yes, these are miracles, done by Jesus. But these are just examples, not the only miracles happening. Perhaps God used these more overt miracles because people were ignoring the “everyday” ones around them. In Romans, Paul states:
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse (Romans 1:19-20 ESV)
So how does an insect without a brain as we think of it accomplish such a feat. “Instinct” says the scientist. Well, if instinct is so bright, perhaps we need to give up our brains for that of a butterfly!!
This is a video from the John 10:10 project, of which I have used several times before in these blogs. In fact, this is the second one of theirs featuring butterflies. I have told the creators that I am using their videos and I have even sent them the blogs that use their inspired work. Thus, I not only have permission, but their encouragement. Check out the rest of their work at https://thejohn1010project.com/about.html
In this video, it discusses the butterfly’s beautiful metamorphosis. There are numerous proximate explanations of this process in science. I am proposing an ultimate explanation, a spiritual one.
Before you view the video from the John 10:10 project, I present you with the same verse from the beginning of this blog:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
https://thejohn1010project.com/an-everyday-miracle.html
