There are dinosaurs in my yard.  

Ok, perhaps not the lumbering giants of Jurassic Park fame, or the winged reptiles that screeched through the sky.  I have to grudgingly admit that true dinosaurs are folded in the pages of the past.  Yet every summer, I’m blessed to be visited by a very special creature—one that is linked to dinosaurs not only in appearance but also in family ties.  I’m referring to the unobtrusive yet unforgettable denizen of sunny days—the lizard.  

Lizards are one of those quirky animals that only a God of unlimited creativity could have devised, and their very uniqueness has always fascinated me.  Oh, I’m aware that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for these reptiles.  My father disgustedly refers to them as “snakes with legs”—considering them a subset of the creatures he loathes more than any other.  Nor is his attitude uncommon:  plenty of people dismiss lizards without a backwards glance.  Lizards are rather humble creatures, after all, and they seem to simply scurry around the corners of our lives.  They’re not flashy or flamboyant, and as a result, the wildlife spotlight rarely falls on them.   

But far from being mere nonentities, lizards are actually amazing creatures.  If you’re fortunate enough during these long and languid days to glimpse one sunning on a stone or scrabbling along a vine or clinging to the bark of a tree, don’t simply dismiss it.  Take a closer look.  Notice their amazing features—from the intricacy of their scaly skin, to their streamlined physique, to the rapid fluttering of their sides as they pant in the summertime heat.  Most of all, notice the signature facial expression—an oddly ancient demeanor, like the gaze of a storybook dragon guarding a priceless secret that will never be divulged.    

We have thirteen different species and subspecies of lizards in Arkansas.  But my favorite lizard, and arguably the most remarkable species in my home state, is the green anole.  In the lineup of lizards, anoles stand out precisely because they don’t—their camouflage abilities are legendary.  

With their lithe forms and diminutive size, anoles have the ability to hide in nooks and crevices that conceal their whereabouts from predators.  In addition, they feature a pattern on their backs designed to imitate vegetation; in the treetops, they can pass for nothing more than a shadow on the leaves.  But most impressive of all, anoles take camouflage one step further:  they actually change colors.  

You see, an anole can appear in hues of either vivid lime green and earthy rust brown—or any subtle shade on the spectrum between these—and they can switch from one tone to another whenever they choose.  Scientists are still unsure of exactly why anoles change colors.  Theories include territorial displays, temperature regulation, or even emotional distress.  Evidently, anoles don’t always use this ability to hide; in fact, sometimes, such as during territorial displays, they intentionally select a color at variance with their background in order to flaunt their presence.  However, it’s indisputable that at other times, having the power to change their hue provides the anole with options for camouflage that few other animals can boast.  

For example, a vivid chartreuse anole stretched along a grass stem would be indistinguishable from the vegetation.  But if that same anole were crawling across a stone wall, brown might be better called for to match the colors of the rocks.  And an anole can select either of these options at will.  

The science behind this is incredible.  When an anole makes the decision to change color, a specialized hormone is released from its pituitary gland.  Complex cells embedded in the anole’s skin respond immediately by producing a flood of melanin (the pigment that leads to dark coloration in skin, feathers, and hair).  As a result, the anole is a quick-change artist, completing the process of a color swap in less than a minute.  

How good of God to give this otherwise defenseless creature such a marvelous ability!  Although the functions of this talent are quite varied, certainly camouflage is likely among them—after all, having the option to be either brown or green gives the anole more flexibility than either color alone would.  And for anoles, changing their color is a remarkable strategy.  But the problem is that we humans change our colors too—and it doesn’t work so well for us. 

We’re constantly trying to blend in, aren’t we?  Consider the boy in the locker room who pretends to laugh at his friends’ raunchy jokes even though he’s uncomfortable.  Or the woman who hides her cross necklace at work.  These are just a few examples of what C. S. Lewis called the “subtle play of looks and tones and laughs by which a [human] can imply that he is of the same party as those to whom he is speaking.”  Lewis went on to give this sobering verdict:  “That is the kind of betrayal [the devil] should specially encourage, because the man does not fully realize it himself.”  Sometimes our colors fade before we even notice. 

And like the anole, our color change is motivated by many factors.  Maybe it’s for safety—to preserve our job or our relationship or our reputation for being “cool.”  Maybe it’s for confidence—sometimes we change our colors to feel more like who we wish we were.  Maybe it’s for nothing more than convenience—because we feel doing so can momentarily help us escape a particular problem, evade an inquiry, or dodge a tough conversation.  

But regardless of our reasons for doing so, changing our colors is one of the most detrimental actions we can take.  For one thing, it’s frustrating to everyone around us.  Trust can’t be built without consistency, so as people watch us play the continual chameleon, they’re left unsure of our true convictions and skeptical about our intentions.  Also, it’s confusing to ourselves—as we shuffle through roles, like a kid playing dress-up, we can easily begin to forget who we really are.  Lastly, it’s pitifully futile.  We can’t hide our true colors from the God Who sees our hearts.  The One Whose opinion of us matters most cannot be fooled by our finagling.  And in God’s plan, we are called not to blend in but to stand out.    

You see, conformity never has been and never will be God’s will for His people.  Just look at His design for the nation of Israel:  “I will make you as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6 ESV).  In the New Testament, the theme continued.  Jesus compared His disciples to fairly conspicuous things—the strong flavor of salt or the brightness of a beacon on a dark night (Matthew 5:13-14).  Peter reminded his readers that they were “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s] own possession” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV).  These few examples are enough to remind us that in every instance in Scripture, the people of God were never told to keep their heads down or remain inconspicuous but were specifically called to appear radically different from their surroundings.  

For an example of this, just look at the story of Daniel.  When we think of Daniel, we imagine the lions’ den, or perhaps his mysterious dreams and prophecies.  But many casual Bible readers miss the backstory.  You see, Daniel was a very young man—probably still a boy—when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged and ransacked Jerusalem.  In accordance with Babylonian custom, intelligent and high-ranking Jews were transported to Babylon as captives, Daniel among them.  As soon as these new captives arrived, they were immersed in a three-year program designed to completely eradicate all traces of their former existence and conform them totally to Babylonian culture, language, ideals, and religion.  

If ever there was a time when someone was tempted to change colors, this must have been it.  After all, Daniel was uprooted from his home, separated from his family, and drowned in a tidal wave of propaganda.  Who could have blamed him for conforming?  Yet in Daniel 1:8, we see Daniel entering this program of complete self-realignment with a single confidence expressed in this simple phrase:  “Daniel purposed in his heart” (KJV).  And what did this teenager purpose?  To remain true to who he was on the inside—something that no outside change could efface.  

Did you know that when Daniel arrived in Babylon, he was given a new name:  Belteshazzar?  It was an idolatrous title designed to negate his allegiance to God and instead designate him as a servant of the Babylonian sun deity.  Yet here’s the beautiful thing:  we never see him referred to as such throughout the book of Daniel.  Even when the kings and rulers addressed him, they used his own name—the name of a man who refused to change his colors. 

Centuries later, Daniel’s example was echoed by Paul’s advice to the Roman church:  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (ESV).  The syntax of this verse clearly declares that there are only two choices.  We can be conformed to the pattern of the world around us, or we can choose to let the Holy Spirit transform us.  This is the fulcrum—the fork in the road between two radically different routes.  

But why is this so important?  Let’s face it—no matter how devoted we are, no matter how firm our convictions, we all have moments when we’d prefer to change color like the anole and blend seamlessly into our surroundings.  Why is it so crucial that we resist this temptation?  For a very important reason:  transformed people transform the world.  

Just look at Daniel again.  He was the advisor to at least eight rulers, surviving the political upheavals of three different empires.  He served in government roles for many decades, charting affairs for some of the most powerful dynasties the world has ever known.  He was, according to Daniel 5:29, the third most powerful man in the whole empire.  If ever a follower of God exerted transformative influence on a culture, it was Daniel.  And it was only possible because he refused to blend in.  

Just consider this:  Daniel was only one Jewish import among thousands.  Yet he (and his three friends) are the only captives mentioned in the Book of Daniel.  Apparently the others accepted their new names and assumed their new identities and blended seamlessly into Babylonian culture.  Like the anole, they registered the “color difference” between Jerusalem and Babylon and altered themselves to match.  Rather than remaining true to their internal compass, they changed their colors to fit every backdrop.    

In contrast, Daniel chose transformation over conformation.  He chose to invite the Holy Spirit to work in his life in a way that couldn’t be hidden.  As a result, God used him to quite literally change the world.  And when we read his account, we feel hope—that maybe, just maybe, the God Who worked through Daniel can work through us as well. 

My friend, perhaps you can identify with the anole today.  Maybe you’ve mastered the art of changing your colors to fit every situation—but you’re feeling a bit lost in the process.  If that’s you, remember something:  we were not made in the image of Google, or the image of Instagram, or the image of our coworkers, or the image of that popular magazine model.  Instead, we were made in the image of God—the fingerprints of the Creator imprinted on our souls, the breath of the Spirit in our lungs.  We’re masterpieces—designed and purposed to give glory to our Maker.  And when we embrace this truth—when we remain faithful to the calling God has placed on our lives—when we show our true hue and refuse to fit the world’s color scheme—then we are free to live our stories with the power, passion, and purpose that radically change our world.  

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments! Also, don’t forget to check out the podcast version!

Now, BIG NEWS!!! My upcoming devotional book, A Year in the Woods, will release on September 1!  It’s going to be an amazing celebration complete with some special surprises!  Best of all, if you join the waiting list, you’ll be eligible for a special discount.  Just click here to add your name and email address!  (Please note that this isn’t equivalent to purchasing the book.  There’s no purchase required to join the waiting list, and it’s completely commitment-free!  But if you do want to purchase the book when it releases, you’ll be eligible for a discount!) Click here to join the waiting list! >