Over the last ten+ years we have seen an ever-growing obsession with regards to one’s outward appearance. This obsession has turned into a multi-billion dollar business. We are bombarded daily with radio, television, newspaper ads drawing us to get a “tuck-here” and a “tuck-there”, a little “botox-here” and a little “botox-there” to make us “feel-better” about ourselves and/or to be able to “succeed” in the corporate world with a more “youthful” appearance. We are tempted with every diet pill known to man and as well a plethora of workout equipment to put those bulges back in their rightful place. There was even a television program called “Extreme Makeover” that was dedicated to “transforming” individuals into “another person” – all in the name of “making one feel better about themselves”.
Turning to our Bibles, have you ever wondered why God never provided any pictures or drawings of “saints” listed throughout? After all, when you consider the word “saint”, doesn’t that conjure up a mental image of a “beautiful” person? I believe the Lord personally limited His Word to statements concerning the outward appearance. Although you will find a few passages describing one’s “height” [for example: Saul: 1 Samuel 9:2; Zacchaeus: Luke 19:3], and one’s “appearance” [for example: David: 1 Samuel 16:12; Christ: Daniel 7:9, Revelation 1:14] – you will find a plethora of passages describing those whose true beauty was manifested as the individual allowed Christ to be seen through their lives. For example, Hebrews 11 provides a list of several Old Testament saints; while the Book of Acts provides a list of several New Testament saints.
So you might now ask, “What does this mean for me, personally?” If you are a born again child of God and you have been struggling with your “outward” appearance, consider for a moment what Christ is doing within you. Notice the following verses from God’s Word.
Philippians 1:6,
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Philippians 2:13,
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Isaiah 64:8,
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Jeremiah 18:2-4,
“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”
2 Timothy 2:21,
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
When we commit our lives unto the Lord’s use, whereas we will become the salt and light unto the world – on the Lord’s behalf – our “attitude”, our “self-worth”, even our “outward appearance” will be seen as a thing of beauty by our Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the words of the apostle Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” [Galatians 2:20].
If you [a child of God] are still worrying about the way you “look”, consider your future “appearance”. Philippians 3:20-21, “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” My prayer is that each one of us will remember that we were made in His image. Therefore, let us reflect the beauty of His image in all that we do. Remember that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder – and it is Christ that beholds us in His image. Let Christ be seen through our lives and what a beautiful sight it will be!
