"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:2)
The word "transformed" is the from the Greek word "metamorphe," (to transform or change) and
is found only in the above verse and in Matt. 17:2 and Mark 9:2 where it is used of the
transfiguration of Jesus. It is used in biology with reference to the change of the worm to the
butterfly.
Once I put an huge ugly green worm which I had found in the garden into a jar. I did this to teach
my small daughters the lesson of how a Christian is to be transformed from the world. The worm
sped itself into a cocoon, and stayed there several days. One morning we looked into the jar, and
there was a very beautiful butterfly. We released it, and it flew away. My girls were so impressed
by my illustration that they filled the whole house with jars with worms in them!
In biology the emphasize is on the outward transformation; but in Christianity, it is on the inward.