Transformed Through Isolation

The kids were watching a nature show the other day about how animals help pollinate plants.  It had some of the most gorgeous cinematography imaginable.  Slow motion video of bees and hummingbirds shows the amazing ability and purpose God has placed within His creation.  Creation works delicately together to provide for itself and keep life multiplying.  In one of the segments they highlighted a beautiful caterpillar that eventually went into a cocoon and transformed into an even more beautiful butterfly that spread pollen from one flower to another, providing the necessary pollination to create fruit.

What a great picture for us to remember during this time of isolation.  Many of us were experiencing great times before this hit.  We were busy and able to do a lot of amazing things.  Life was beautiful.  It may have not been perfect, but we were living in one of the greatest economies in history with a lot of luxuries that few in the world would ever get to experience.  It was going so well that few noticed the limitations we were putting on our lives spiritually.  That which made life easy and fun was blinding us to the spiritual needs in our own life as well as those around us.  Church in America had lost its power because Americans didn’t see a need for God.  The world was meeting their perceived needs.

Now we find ourselves in a cocoon of isolation.  Dreary and no fun.  We remember how beautiful things were and the future is uncertain.  However, God promises us in Romans 8:28-30:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

God is working during this time to bring glory to Himself.  We will come out of this cocoon as a beautiful butterfly that is conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.  He has a purpose for us to accomplish and this time of isolation is necessary to transform the church into what He needs us to become.  Do not lose heart during these weeks.  God is using it whether we can see it now or not.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”