It is not natural for us humans to be happy through the trials and tribulations of life, and they are many. We complain about our lot, we moan about those who have caused pain, whether physical or emotional. We get depressed. Our natural reaction is to try to avoid problems.

The Lord created the caterpillar to grow up into a butterfly. He creates each one of us to grow and change spiritually and physically. The Lord has so much more for us, if only we will retreat into a cocoon with Him and allow Him to melt and change us.

One more day on this verse which is so rich. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar completely dissolves into a liquid and the butterfly is a totally new construction out of that liquid. The Bible suggests the same for us. The plan of God is that we change beyond recognition.

Baby dogs, look like their parents, baby spiders look like their parents, as do birds, reptiles, and certainly people, but not butterflies!! The change that happens in the life of a caterpillar to make it into a butterfly is an interior change before it becomes an outward one.

If you ask a high level student for his opinion on something, they will speak out of their studious mind, and tell you for examples what Descartes said, or what Shakespeare wrote. Their minds have been renewed to think like the people they have studied. We must do the same!

The way we show others that we have faith in Jesus, is by doing what He did. I am guilty of not fulfilling His command. I know that I need to be more transformed. I need to continue being transformed. It is not a once in a lifetime process.

Jesus is our model. Do we take His word seriously? Jesus is alive today and still wanting to do the same things, to go against the pattern of the world. He is still looking for followers who will stay with Him and break the mould for Him; are you ready?

This is not a polite request. Paul is not suggesting here. He is giving us a command. Do not conform any longer, but be transformed! Paul knows from his own transformation that it is the only way to the truth. The Bible never says Be happy, in so many words.

All our lives, most of us are trained to conform; to sit still and listen, to go to school, to eat correctly, to follow the fashions, have the latest hairstyles, see the latest films, listen to the right music, study for a good job, climb the social ladder.

Do not conform. It is too easy for many of us to conform to peer groups, to the habits of others in our work places. Even to conform to church practices. We often feel that is expected of us and most of us do not like to be different.