“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
A few years ago, a pastor friend of mine received a wonderful blessing from a reality television series called Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. They provided home improvements for what they considered less fortunate families. He and his family had lived and served God for years in a needy area of our city, described by many as the “War Zone.” They brought the love of God and shared the hope of the Good News of the gospel in a wonderful way. Their home was in dire need of repair. Extreme Makeover rebuilt his family’s home from the ground up, at no cost to him, and the result was the most beautiful house in his neighborhood. The honor was well deserved.
Extreme makeovers of all sorts are trendy these days. A Google search turned up over 3 million hits on the subject, many involving personal physical improvements using cosmetic, dental and plastic surgery. In one study among seniors, their number one concern about aging was their appearance. No one wanted to look “old.”
One local company specialized in what they called, “complex image overhauls,” or everything which is necessary, appropriate, or possible in helping to change one’s appearance—or what they called, “the works.” I wonder if that would work for me? Perhaps they could add some hair to my head, straighten my teeth, trim my waistline and take about 30 years off my age. Wow, you’d never recognize me!
Now I want you to know that I have nothing against wanting to look good or better—I take great pains in it myself to the extent of what I have to work with. But God doesn’t seem to get too excited about the value of our outer beauty and what we look like. In fact, He tells us that whatever good looks and physique we now possess, all are in the process of “wasting away.” Fight it all you want—you’re not going to win. Botox or not. Sorry.
God does have a lot to say, however, about our inner beauty, which comes when we give ourselves over to Jesus Christ and let him take charge of our lives. The result? Well, the Bible says that God will make us into something new—a new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! — 2 Cor. 5:17
The Greek word for new used here is kainos which means a “brand new” creation—both inside and out! Now that’s the kind of extreme makeover I want. How about you?
Heavenly Father, help us to be content with where we are in this life and what we look like and to thank you for each day you give us to serve you. We know this world is not our home and this earthly body we live in will be exchanged some day for a new one—one that will last for all eternity and never grow old because you created it just for us. Until that day teach us to be grateful for the process of change that is taking place in our inner being, as we are being made in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). — Amen.
Maranatha! — Pastor Don Kimbro
To help us walk closer with God and to know Him better
