Beauty & the Beast

Everywhere we look today - whether through media, school or in the workplace; a heavy load is placed on us in regards to our appearance. We are influenced daily as we are told what we need to look like and what we need to have in order to be attractive to others and meet society’s unattainable standards. We, both men and women, are constantly manipulated in believing that what we wear, how we look and what we own are the things that define us as a person. But there is so much more that pieces us together than how many likes we get on Facebook or how many followers we have on Instagram.

We are currently surrounded and living in a world where beauty is only defined by what we see on the scale, the clothes and makeup we wear and the amount of people who try to friend or follow us online. We need to remember that although we are in this world, we are not of it (John 17:16). As much as I hate to say it, we live in world that is run by the most cunning beast: the devil himself. And one of his biggest and most harmful weapons is comparison. This beast loves nothing more than to get into our thoughts and make us envy the way others look and what they have. He plays mind tricks and makes us devalue ourselves in order to distract and hinder us from the truth; from the reality of what God sees when he looks at us. He uses weapons such as the media to tell us that if we’re not conforming to society’s definition of beauty, we’re not beautiful at all.

But what if I told you that the beast is a LIAR! And that God’s definition of beauty goes far beyond outward appearance? The bible says that beauty should not come from outward adornment but rather that of our inner self; the unfading beauty of a gentle and quite spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4). In God’s eyes, having a gentle spirit, showing love and kindness to those surrounding us is what makes us truly beautiful. We could have everything society deems to be beautiful but if we’re ugly where it truly matters (within), what’s the point? If people can’t see the beauty of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23); then what are we leaving behind? What is our legacy?

In a time where external appearance is everything, we need to go against the grain. We need to understand that charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting (Psalms 31:30). Every single person on this earth will lose their beauty. Nobody, not one person, is able to fit the world’s mould of beauty forever. But God’s definition of beauty – that is the one that can be worked towards and obtained forever. One that will have us remembered by whom we were and the differences we made.

So remember this, we, mankind were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). We were beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14) to have an impact. If we begin to see beauty through the eyes of Him who created it, then we can begin to understand it far more deeply and leave behind a far more important and impacting legacy.