"Are You a Chameleon or a Butterfly?"

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "  - Romans 12:2:

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."  -  Eph. 4:24

"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  -  II Cor. 5:17

Many of us look at Christianity as just a belief in Christ or not. Yet Christianity is more than just a mental assent or belief in Christ.  If one truly accepts Jesus Christ as their LORD and SAVIOR, they become a NEW CREATION (II Cor. 5:17). This means we are NOT the SAME as we were; not a remake of the old person!!! You may still look the same on the outside, and you will have to renew your mind (change your thinking) but inside (spiritually) you are NEW!

The problem with some people is that, although they SAY they are Christians, they have not been conformed and transformed as we are told to be in Romans 12:2

Here is a short lesson on the word "CONFORMED" and "TRANSFORMED" as to it's Greek meaning in Romans 12:2.

CONFORMED - Greek is "sunschematizo" and refers to the act of an individual assuming an outward expression that does not come from within him, nor is it representative of his inner heart life... Thus it means STOP masquerading in the habits of this world, its mannerisms, speech expressions, styles.

TRANSFORMED - Greek is "metamorphoomai", which speaks of the act of a person changing his outward expression from that which he has to a different one, an expression which comes from and is representative of his INNER being. Thus it is to be changed from the INSIDE out (this is where we come up with our English word "metamorphous").

So the question I ask you today is, "Are you a chameleon or a butterfly?" chameleon or a butterfly?"

A CHAMELEON-TYPE CHRISTIAN is the type of person who, at church or Bible study, may look like a Christian, but once he is away from Christians, he looks like the unsaved world. A chameleon changes color based on the environment he is in to fit/blend in. If it's on something green, it turns green; if it's on something brown, it turns brown.  But you know that the chameleon is exactly the same critter.  So it is with many who carry the name "Christian" around Christians, yet look just like the world (unsaved) when they are around the lost.  They look like them in their actions (deeds, words, etc.)  This type of "Christian" is not a Christian at all!!!

A BUTTERFLY-TYPE CHRISTIAN is one who has truly been transformed into a most beautiful NEW creation.  Once a caterpillar, now a butterfly!   He is not the same any more - he has been transformed!!!   This is what happens to the Christian.  When he becomes a true Christian he CHANGES! When he's at church or Bible study he's a Christian (like a beautiful butterfly) and when he is around others in the world (work, day-to-day activities, home, etc.) he still is a beautiful butterfly.  He doesn't change based on his environment.  Some may not like him being a butterfly, but he is one!  He has been changed through Christ! 

Oh, to be a NEW CREATION, shining Christ's beautiful love and life to a lost and dying world without spiritual hope apart from Christ!  May the beautiful butterflies be found everywhere!

So I ask you, is your Christianity more like that of a chameleon or a butterfly?

LORD, MAY OUR LIVES BE EVIDENCE TO OTHERS THAT WE HAVE TRULY BEEN CHANGED BY YOU!

Have a Jesus blessed day,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)