THINKING BEYOND BEAUTY
THINKING BEYOND BEAUTY
The Scriptures teach of Satan: “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty” (Ez. 28:17).
The Scriptures teach of Jesus: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Is. 53:2).
No wonder the majority of people are lost (Matt. 7:13, 14). Think about it!
Remember! We are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). You have to think to be saved! Thoughtless and ignorant people are easily deceived. Since Jesus was neither thoughtless nor ignorant the wicked one could not deceive Him. (See Matt. 4:1 -11)
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First, Satan challenged Jesus to turn stones into bread.
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Second, Satan challenged Jesus to cast Himself down from the temple that He might be
rescued by the angels.
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In the third place, Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and their glory if He
would only bow down and worship wickedness.
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Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are powerful magnets that draw stupid people to destruction. Jesus was not stupid! He analytical mind saw beyond the immediate pleasure Satan offered and wisely chose the eternal rewards offered Him by God.
Many years ago we fattened a steer to provide meat for our family. When the day came to slaughter the steer, we placed a pan of grain beneath a big limb. We had a block and tackle on that limb to string up the dead steer and skin him. That stupid creature never looked up. All he saw or thought about was something to satisfy his physical hunger. Solomon said that a stupid man acts the same way. The man who lusts after a strange woman goes after her like “an ox to the slaughter” (Prov. 7:22). Had the man only looked up and started thinking, he could have avoided his doom.
God in heaven is beautiful, God on earth is not! Think about it!
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1 Chronicles 16:29 teaches us to worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness. #
2 Chronicles 20:21 tells of singers who praised the Lord for the beauty of His holiness. #
Ps. 27:4 tells how the Psalmist wanted to dwell in the house of the Lord and behold His
beauty.
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Ps.90:17 calls for the beauty of the Lord to be upon us.
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In order to see the beauty of God, however, we have to think.
Blind people, of course, cannot see the beauty of the Lord, and the god of this world has blinded the eyes of unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4). When we believe, however, the veil is taken away and the light of the glorious gospel reveals to us the true beauty of Christ. Christ is the “image” of God (2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15). The Bible word translated as “image” is “eikon” which is the basis of our English word “icon”. The “icon” on a computer screen may not be beautiful, but it can open up massive programs that are. When we “click on Jesus” the eyes of our understanding are opened and we see beyond the ugliness of the cross to the future glory of the resurrection. Think about it!
Yes! The way that leads to life is straight and narrow and only a few will find it. Against all human wisdom, behind the ugly cross is incredible beauty. The trial of our faith is actually more precious than gold which perishes. When Jesus comes again in all His glory, believers will be glad they made the right choice and will be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. 1:7, 8).
Pilate offered a choice, Jesus or Barabbas. Jesus had been beaten, afflicted, and tormented. His visage was marred and there was no beauty in Him to desire. Therefore the people foolishly chose Barabbas. They made the wrong choice! Think before you make the wrong choice too!