Beholding the Eye of the Beholder

Considering afresh the Beauty of Christ in the Life of the Believer

Howdy,

Beauty is an underrated topic in the Christian life. When we see that term we often use it in the context of subjective things like human looks or physical things of many stripes. I’ve heard people say football plays are beautiful, a work of art. Some find the whole concept of football repugnant. It’s not easy to please everyone or come to a clear idea of what makes something to be beautiful in the way we usually use that word. The old saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” seems apropos here. For today’s prayer and worship help what we are going to be doing is meditating on one particular part of a proper idea of beauty referenced in what follows as we grow in grace and love for our wonderful Savior.

When it comes to the way we see it used in the Bible, like in Jesus’s description of the church in Song of Songs 6:10, “Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” there is an objective idea there. While we do not deny that there is an outward testimony of beauty, for Christians we are to be looking for something deeper and more meaningful than that which goes away, or as Solomon writes about it elsewhere, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised”. (Prov. 31:30). For the believer then when we think of the word beauty we are to be reminded that as the apostle puts it, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4). What is that makes someone to be beautiful and altogether lovely?

The beauty of which a Christian seeks is to be found alone in their savior Jesus Christ. Our inward glory is merely a reflection of the righteousness we have received by the inward work of the Holy Spirit in washing us as white as snow. The salvation which we have received is the lifeblood of the believer. Every thing we do in the blessing of our God is performed in the light of what He has done for us. It is all of grace or none of it is by grace. That is why we praise and worship and move around in joyful sounds of thanksgiving as our relationship and understanding of the gospel grows more and more in love. Some men may not like this kind of syrupy language but it is worth reminding that Jesus used it to describe the selflessness that every man should show to his own kin. What greater love is there than a man who sacrifices himself for someone else? Is there anything more full of power and mercy than laying down one’s life for another? As I was living in base housing at Quantico I ate breakfast, lunch, and supper at the chow hall near us. Standing in line to get your card swiped there were dozens of framed citations of men who had received the medal of honor in previous days, and nearly all of them marked some type of selfless action to save the life of another. There was beauty to be seen for those with eyes to see.

Well, why do we praise men who do that? Why do we worship and praise the God who sent His Son to do likewise for us? Because of our love for neighbor, because we see their worth not by some arbitrary standard, but in the very image of God their soul witnesses to the fact that every human being who rests in Christ is thereby made beautiful in Him, regardless of outward characteristics. Joy truly comes in the Christian life when we see the glory of all Heaven and Earth which we receive in the power of the blood shed for us. Until and unless when we look at a human being and we see that which is marred and destroyed by sin and Adam’s ill and the prospect for that image to be renewed in Jesus we will not do the kind of worship we should.

Another way to think about this idea of beauty is that the world often thinks of it as pure symmetry, or maybe better said, 2 +2 = 4. There is equality there, a testimony to assurance that what is true in one place will be true forever. For the Christian then consider again how many times in the Old Testament like in our scripture text from Sunday, Genesis 28:10-17, there are calls back to the promises made in the past in order to encourage future obedience and worship. This emphasis on the assurance that we have today because God’s providence has acted in the past to witness beauty in the life of His people is why we gather on the Lord’s Day. It is why we wake up in comfort, and it is why we have no reason to fear in a time of trial. Our God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever has in a very real sense already completed all that will do as he creates all things by the word of His power. We are then being encouraged by Scripture to allow our heart to be at peace as we hear of the way our Lord has delivered and how that’s applied to us. There is nothing more beautiful than the cross.

In closing, the work and worth of beauty in the Christian life is grounded on the objective truth of the gospel. The good news is only true because of who has granted it and provided it. The magnificence of what our Lord has done on our behalf should mesmerize us as much as the sight of the Shulamite caused the Bridegroom to leap in His heart of hearts. Even the manliest of men knows the inherent wonderful feeling when eyes are made toward their Beloved. So to should the believer consider afresh the gift and grant of faith as they rejoice in grace in the love we show to one another through the splendor given to them by the maker of all things.

Here's a last word:

https://www.reformationscotland.org/2016/09/23/being-captivated-by-the-beauty-of-god/

Blessings in Christ,

Rev. Benjamin Glaser

Pastor, Bethany ARP Church