How Does Repentance Go Beyond Change?
John the Baptist was pretty straightforward. There was more than sorrow, and more than change involved in true repentance, “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8, NASB) Obviously John was looking for a sign that real change had actually taken place. If we look at the simple illustration of metamorphosis we have some amazing clues about how this happens in our lives.

With regard to the caterpillar—on the surface it might seem to appear that when metamorphosis takes place a new creature is born—yet in all the change that has taken place, the caterpillar and the butterfly are one in the same. Although his outward appearance is different, although he’ll never eat the same way again, or move about in the same manner, he is still the same creature and has the same DNA. Although he started life in one form, he will end his life totally transformed. For he is both enabled and equipped for the changes that take place.

Enabling. Whether we talk of the caterpillar in his larvae or adult stage, most would consider him an ugly creature. Scripture tells us that as man, we were born into sin, ugly in the sight of God. Yet even so we are both provided for through the plan of God. The caterpillar first survives on the meal of his egg casing, then the milkweed leaves, then instinctively climbs the tree to build its cocoon or chrysalis. Man is sustained in body as a child through his immediate family, then spiritually by the fellowship of believers in his church family, and grows into adulthood with the Word—which provides God’s plan for salvation.

In the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes a dynamic transformation triggered by God’s plan written in his DNA. Through coming to faith and belief, a dynamic transformation is triggered in man by God’s plan written in His Word. Baptism becomes man’s chrysalis—that wet moment in time when our transformation takes place. For the caterpillar and man, coming out of the chrysalis becomes a point of new equipping.

Equipping. Once out of his chrysalis, the butterfly finds his probosis and a set of wings. He hangs from the branch until his probosis springs into place and his wings unfurl and dry.

When a truly repentant heart leads man to change we also find equipping to continue in change. In repentance (metanoia/metamorphosis) we find the equipping of the Holy Spirit. Therein lies the key—baptized by water and fire, man is also equipped for a life of faith through the Holy Spirit.

But, the comparison doesn’t end just yet.

The butterfly can go to the end of the branch and stretch his wings and fly. Caught on the updraft he is no longer limited to crawling and inching along in life. He has new equipment, now he needs to use it. In using it, like the bee, he polinates and furthers life. Yet he could also decide to remain on the branch, fearing the updraft and fearing where the wind might take him.

As believers, we too are equipped to “fly.” How sad it would be, if we stood equipped to fly yet never left the branch. How sad it would be, to leave our repentance incomplete. How sad it would be, to fear where the wind might take us and never bear the fruit of change.