Equal Opportunity Beauty

The following is a feature article in the January/February edition of Reflections magazine available from Ladies Ministries.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BEAUTY

Have you ever wondered what it means to be “fearfully” made? Surely the message of this verse is not that people are frightful, although this is sometimes the case when I roll out of the sheets with a bodacious case of “bed head.” While each of us would do well to greet a hairbrush in the morning, what this verse indicates is that God’s creation – you and me – should be held in awe and inspire praise!

Being wonderfully made means (drum roll, please) we are made wonderfully! The wonder of our “divine design” should arouse genuine admiration — feelings of pleasure and approval. We’re not talking about egocentric self-love, but the satisfaction that comes from knowing we bear the fingerprints of God! The works of God are marvelous. That includes you and me: each of us a one-of-a-kind Master-piece.

Ladies, Scripture declares it! Jesus made you and me awesome, wonderful and marvelous! We may not always appreciate the beauty in the reflection we see in our mirrors, but shouldn’t we agree with God’s appraisal? He likes what He made; and after all, true beauty is in the eye of the Creator.

Pretty in Perspective

Now, here's a really awe-inspiring concept! No matter what you and I look like on the outside, we each have the same equal opportunity to be beautiful people.

Peter taught Christian ladies to refrain from the outer adornment and decoration techniques practiced in their culture. Instead they should pursue the inner, unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (I Peter 3:3-4). Unfading beauty cannot be based on physical attributes. No matter how we look today, if we keep breathing long enough, gravity and time will have their way on our skin, hair and other features.

Timeless beauty is based on virtue and is the antithesis of the youthful ideal promoted in our culture. Inner beauty improves with age and experience. It’s possible to be a more beautiful person at 60 than you were at 16.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:30, NIV). The desire for outward attractiveness comes naturally in our human packaging, but it's clear God places a higher value on character than attractiveness.

In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrased Peter’s counsel to women with unsaved husbands. He assured them they would be “captivated” by their lives of “holy beauty” (I Peter 3:1-4, MSG). I like that – holy beauty that captivates others! He went on to say, “Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.”

Continuing with Peter’s writings: "For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear” (I Peter 3:5-6, NIV).

Sarah was physically attractive. Her beauty so concerned her husband he lied about their relationship to protect his life. Sarah wasn't perfect. She made mistakes and even laughed at God's promise, but Peter wrote that her obedience and respect made her beautiful.   

If we are Sarah's daughters, we will do as she did: 1) what is right, and 2) not give way to fear. It seems much of the driving force behind "becoming beautiful" or maintaining a youthful appearance is based in fear – a fear that we aren't good enough or might lose our “edge.” My sisters, let’s do what's right and not give in to fears that stem from deep-rooted needs for security fostered by a ravenous multi-billion dollar beauty industry.

Be Pretty

You have probably heard your mom say, “Pretty is as pretty does” or its companion clause, “Don’t act ugly!” Our conduct affects the perception of beauty we transmit to others. It’s a fact that outer beauty draws attention, but character captures and keeps admiration and affection. A person of beautiful character brings beauty to her world.

We may never measure up to the standards of beauty promoted in our culture, but in addition to being the awesome, wonderful, marvelous creations God made us to be, we can choose to be radiant. “Those who look to him are radiant” (Psalm 34:5, NIV). God’s Spirit in us brings a glow that no cosmetic can compete with, and purity is as pretty as pretty can be. If we treasure the beautiful Word of God in our inner selves, we will radiate beauty outwardly! Listen and glisten! “The splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect” (Ezekiel 16:14, NIV).

One final consideration I leave with you. Was Jesus beautiful? It’s written in Isaiah 53:2, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” God could have created the most magnificent body for Himself, but according to the Word, Jesus was an average looking person.

When He was arrested and beaten beyond recognition, Jesus was less than lovely to look upon, but He was never more beautiful. As we put our faith in God and follow Jesus’ footsteps in humility, we will gain a beauty that is far more than the sum of our physical parts. Obedience is always beautiful. True beauty shines form a Christ-like heart!