Becoming

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:2; NKJV

While growing up, one of the questions that were often asked was “Who do you want to be when you grow up?”, as if we were meant to be one thing and afterwards that is all. But as I grew older, I realised that there are multiple stages and multilayer phases of becoming.

As believers, our ultimate goal is be conformed to the image of the Son of God, but we have to keep shedding layers and layers of flesh till all that comes from us only reveals God.

I searched for a definition of  “becoming” but couldn’t find a suitable one (considering it from the perspective of “being”). However, I will explain this concept using other adjectives.

When we say to “become”, it means to be transformed, to be changed into another form. This transformation is neither aimless nor isolated; there is an expected end at which our change or transformation or becoming is targeted.

In the New Testament, the Greek word used for “to become” or “to be transformed” is metamorphosis (as we see in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Metamorphosis is a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one. In biology, it is defined as the process of transformation from an immature form of an animal – like larva – to its adult form in two or more distinct stages.

A good example of this is the life cycle of a butterfly.

Before a butterfly emerges, it goes through a series of transformations: It moves from the egg stage to the larvae stage, to the pupa stage and finally, the pupa transforms into a butterfly. This transformation doesn’t happen in a day, and it comes with its difficulties.

For instance, the larvae stage is referred to as the eating stage. As the caterpillar grows it splits its skin and sheds it about 4 or 5 times. Food eaten at this time is stored and used later as an adult.

The Pupa stage is known as the transition phase, at this phase the caterpillar is full-grown and it stops eating, it becomes a pupa. The pupa may be suspended under a branch, hidden in leaves or buried underground. This stage can last from a few weeks to a month, or even longer. Some species have a pupal stage that lasts for two years!

It may look like nothing is going on but big changes are happening inside. Special cells that were present in the larva are now growing rapidly. They will become the legs, wings, eyes and other parts of the adult butterfly.

The adult stage is when we have the butterfly with wings, eyes, legs etc. It’s at this phase that the butterfly can now begin to reproduce itself.

Similarly, we have to go through multiple growth processes to become who God wants us to be. While our becoming has an end goal (which is, that we will be conformed to the image of Christ), it is not a one-time matter but a process we have to embark on till our departure from this world. There will be seasons of waiting, where all that is required is learning and building our capacity, while some seasons will be for manifestation.

Like men of Issachar, we have to understand times and seasons knowing exactly what to do at each phase of life. Our growth is proportional to our becoming. The day we stop growing is the day we stop becoming.

How can we be transformed?

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18; NKJV

2 Corinthians 3:18 gives us an insight into what we should look like as we are being transformed and how we can be transformed.

We are transformed through what we look at consistently.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image.” This means that it is what we look at consistently that we look like.

The mirror in this verse refers to the Word of God. This means that as we continue to look into the Word of God, our reflection will continue to reflect the image of the Lord. This is our goal; to look like Christ, to be like Him.

It is a continuous process. It’s not something we do today and leave tomorrow. We have to stay at it, till every one of our fibre reveals Christ.

Secondly, you are becoming the true person God had in mind before the beginning of time, as described in Psalm 139. But, you are not yet there. God always creates capacity and then invites you to live into it. He understands that you will never grow unless you attempt things that you cannot do, take on challenges that seem impossible, and stretch your faith to accommodate your desire.

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Proverbs 4:18; NKJV

There is no better yesterday in God. Our becoming is from one level of glory to another level of glory. It’s from glory to glory.