Constituted for Heaven

On the very first page of "What is Man?" by T. Austin-Sparks, he wrote: As the crawling caterpillar or silkworm has to spin its shroud and yield that form of life in order to awaken in a new order, break through into a new world as a beautiful moth or butterfly, so has man now to pass out of one order and be constituted anew with faculties and capacities for a higher.

I think most believers have heard the story of the butterfly and the analogy as presented above, but I wonder how aware we are of our need to be constituted for the change we are all looking forward to. How willing are we (really) to 'yield that form of life (we currently know) in order to awaken in a new order?' It's so easy to just think, 'Oh, yes, I was an ugly caterpillar, accepted Christ, then He made me into a beautiful butterfly!' Yes, that, too, is a fitting analogy, but let's not stop there.

Are we intentionally preparing ourselves to pass out of this order of life to be fit for the higher life He has in mind for us? (both here AND in eternity) This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 3:15 that says, 'If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.' Fire destroys all that it touches, with the exception of gold (and possibly other substances of which I'm not aware).
So, what does it mean, that this person will suffer loss? One commentator puts it this way: He shall be injuriously affected by this forever. It shall be a detriment to him to all eternity. The effects shall be felt in all his residence in heaven; not producing misery, but attending him with the consciousness that he might have been raised to superior bliss in the eternal abode. The phrase here literally means, "he shall be mulcted." The word is a law term, and means that he shall be fined; i.e., he shall suffer detriment.

So, when we're just about to speak 'that little white lie,' cheat on our taxes, just take one peek at internet porn, or even 'just' gossip about our brother or sister in Christ, let us remember we are affecting our eternal abode. May we ask ourselves, 'Is it really worth it?' and trust the One Whose name is Truth to do or say the right thing. Blessings to you to become an astoundingly beautiful butterfly!