Once upon a time, a fellow (we’ll call Mike) took his young daughter, son, two nephews and a niece to a place high on a mountain. Its treeless top was covered with green grass, and they could see surrounding mountains for many a mile. Suddenly Mike spread his arms, began slowly spinning, and burst out in song. “The hills are alive…with the sound of music.”
These many years later, the children, now all grown, remember it with fondness, laughter, and even a bit of joy. The mere mention of this brief moment in their lives brings a quick smile. How sad it would have been had Mike been consumed with appearances, like much of the rest of the world.
While stuck at home recovering from surgery, I watched a lot of TV and things on the Internet. One in particular was a clip from Britain’s Got Talent featuring Susan Boyle. As she stood on the stage, the audience openly laughed at her, rolling their eyes with ridicule. At least, that is, until Ms. Boyle began to sing. Then they cheered.
What caused the mocking stares, laughter and blatant disbelief when she said she dreamed of being a professional singer? As scores of articles honestly said afterward, it was because of how Ms. Boyle looked. In the audience’s eyes, she was homely and frumpy. To them, she was not beautiful nor even pretty. They judged her for her appearance, rather than try to see into her heart.
This has nothing to do with Brits. I see the same thing everywhere. TV personalities, movie stars, authors, corporate executives, politicians, even more than a few pastors, ministers and priests. For some reason many think that how someone looks has something to do with that individual as a person.
And then they apply such standards to themselves, and life becomes miserable. I’m too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, too dark, too light. I don’t like my hair, my eyes, the length of my legs. Even more…I can’t walk, I can’t stand, I can’t hear, I can’t see, I can’t speak. I’m not beautiful. I’m worthless.
Appearance can beat down and steal joy when a person is consumed by it. God has warned us of such devotion. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless…They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think… (Isaiah 44:9a,18-19a)
But remember how Isaiah described the One who would come? He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2b) Jesus was not handsome. His appearance would not have drawn us to Him. He was plain and ordinary. If today He stood on a stage and told us, I have come to save you, what would we say? Nope, sorry, you don’t look the part. Next!
God does not care how you look. He does not care about the color of your skin, how much of it you may have, or its lines of age. He does not care if your body is perfect according to the standards of this world. God’s focus, what He deeply cares about, is found on the inside, where From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. (Psalms 50:2). Do you seek to be like Him?
God looks into your heart and sees someone worth dying for. Spread your arms and dance on the mountaintop. Let no one bring you down, for to the One who created the wonders of the Universe, the galaxies, the stars, and this incredible planet on which we live…to Him you are beautiful! Take care and be God’s,
Chuck Graham
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