And do not be conformed to this world

But be transformed by the renewing of your mind

So that you may prove what the will of GOD is

That which is good and acceptable and perfect

Romans 12:2

Most of you know that a caterpillar is an insect that physically changes into a butterfly through complex metamorphosis.

But few know, the first thing that happens during this process is that most of the caterpillar’s old body dies. It is attacked by the same sort of juices the caterpillar used in its earlier life to digest its food. Literally, the caterpillar digests itself from the inside out. This process which destroys the majority of the caterpillar’s old body is called “histolysis.” What remains of the insect’s old body after “histolysis” is tissue that was hidden within a number of special formative cells. These special formative cells played no part in the caterpillar’s life, and stayed hidden or protected during the caterpillar’s partial death. 

Once the caterpillar’s partial death “histolysis” is completed (or appears to become soup), the hidden tissue known as “imaginal-disk” will be used to rebuild the caterpillar into a butterfly.  The “imaginal-disk” will reproduce rapidly to build a new body; developing into wings, legs, hairs, antennae, etc. out of the soup or insect’s digestive juices from the old larval body.

This complex metamorphosis of a caterpillar is such a powerful visual of what happens spiritually to a person who is truly “born again.” Once a person surrenders their life to our Precious JESUS CHRIST by acknowledging that HE and not they hold the power, authority, and final decisions in their life (Rom 10:9-10); and believe that our Beloved LORD GOD raised HIM from the dead, thus declaring that JESUS CHRIST is indeed The SON of GOD (Rom 1:4, 1 Ths 1:9-10), the transformation (metamorphosis) begins.

That part of the spiritually reborn person that was hostile toward GOD, also known as ‘flesh’ (Rom 8:7-8); their human nature which is prone to sin (Rom 8:5, Gal 5:19-21), is eventually destroyed, just like the caterpillar’s body. And the spiritual “imaginal-disk” or the hidden/innermost part or the mind of man (that invisible part of man that thinks, feels, remembers, judges, perceives, understands and determines) is transformed into a new creature (2 Cor 5:17) by GOD’s SPIRIT (2 Cor 3:18, Tit 3:5) and HIS WORD (Rom 12:2).

What is the outcome of this transformation? The thoughts, desires and behavior of one who is spiritually reborn will change. This person will no longer be conformed to this world (living the same lifestyle as the ungodly in this present evil age―1 Pet 1:14, 2 Tim 3:1-5), but will be conformed to the image of JESUS (Rom 8:29, 1 Pet 1:15).

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