There are over 160 species of tree-dwelling Chameleons spread across Madagascar, Spain, Africa, Asia, and Portugal. These Old-World lizards are best known for their ability to change body colour. They do this to blend into their environment to escape predators and other dangers, to hide from prey and ambush them by blending in with their surroundings, to regulate their body temperature, and for mating.

I have not yet experienced the Chameleon ‘animal’ species, but I have experienced the ‘human’ species. It is said that when a person changes his or her beliefs or behaviour to please others or to succeed in some capacity in the world is a Chameleon. Such people have great power in being able to connect with others. However, this power to connect weakens them by losing their identity!

The human Chameleon lacks grounding… blends in and exists everywhere. They look to others to define their values in life. These people lack a sense of purpose or reason for existing–they mould themselves to the purpose and reasoning of others through surrendering into their hands ‘who they really are.’

Before my life-changing encounter with Christ, I was a member of the Chameleon human species… skillfully adapting my behaviour to ‘appear’ to conform to the expectations of my parents, peers, community… every one!  I desperately wanted to be accepted and would sacrifice ‘who I am’ for this to happen. Was I better-off for doing this? No! Mask-wearing to please others is dishonest, hypocritical, unprofitable, and tiresome.

It was the Holy Spirit who opened my eyes to see that my pretentious life was nothing more than a pointless charade. It was Scripture that enabled me to understand that the natural ‘unregenerated me’ (a caterpillar grub), had the potential of becoming someone of real value. It was my Heavenly Father who said to me, ‘I have chosen you to become [transformed] like My Son’ (Rom. 8:29).  Wow! Me… ‘become’ like Jesus? Is this possible? How is this possible? Yes, please!

Scripture says that when believers present (gift) their lives to God, which is their reasonable act of worship, they must not copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform them into new people by changing the way they think. Then they will learn to know God’s will for them, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:1-2).

Note: The Greek word transform is translated ‘metamorphosis.’ Metamorphosis is a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one. In this case, the transformation is of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Who in their right mind would choose to remain as a human grub and not subscribe to God’s invitation to being transformed into a most beautiful creature through His miraculous power? Is there anyone more glorious than the Sovereign One who is too beautiful for words, too marvellous beyond comprehension? That is what God wants to do in the lives of every member of His family… to make you and me like His radiant Son!

Every person at one time or another has behaved with Chameleon-like tendencies. There was a time when Paul confronted Peter for his behaviour. Galatians records, “But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter would not eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy” (2:11-13).

Note: Peter had a history of behaving like a Chameleon. To save his hide the evening Jesus was arrested, three times he blended-in with the crowd by denying he had any association with Jesus!

Hope Solo, one of the top female soccer goalkeepers of all time, said, “There are so many different walks of life, so many different personalities in the world. And no longer do you have to be a Chameleon and try and adapt to that environment – you can truly be yourself.”

Lana Del Rey, American singer-songwriter said, “I was always an unusual girl. My mother told me I had a Chameleon soul, no moral compass pointing due north, no fixed personality; just an inner indecisiveness that was as wide and as wavering as the ocean.”

Jesus is the only Person who has ever lived among us with ‘zero’ Chameleon-like tendencies. Even in the toughest of situations He remained true to His Personhood, knowing that by doing so He would be signing His death warrant.

What do you stand for? What are you committed to? What do you value most in life? What do you believe? WHO ARE YOU?

Friends, God opened my eyes and enabled me to see. I no longer live as a Chameleon, fearful of rejection by human Chameleons.  Instead, I live day-by-day as a blessed, transforming ‘spiritual caterpillar’… looking more like Jesus today than yesterday. I like the ‘real me’… no more pretentious mask-wearing! Human Chameleons are free to like me, love me, or reject me–that is their decision. Whatever they decide has no bearing on who I am. My absolute belief in Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, has made me a highly valued, transforming member of God’s family! WHO ARE YOU?

Bill