Friday, December 13, 2013

Beauty

Have you ever wondered why we spend so much time fixing up our homes and ourselves. Painting, plucking, and powdering? Why we flip through remodeling and gardening magazines searching for the right faucet, seedling, or statue? Why we frost cookies, decorate Christmas trees with silver and gold, and light candles to fill our homes with spicy fragrance?
            Because deep within the heart of every man, woman, and child is a longing for beauty. God, the Beautiful One and Creator of all things beautiful, designed us with that desire.
            We need look no further than the Babe in the manger to capture beauty in its truest form. The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace all rolled into the Person of Christ is the One in whom all things exist and hold together.
           The phrase “God doesn’t make junk,” is actually true. In the beginning, God looked at creation and labeled it “good.” Only when sin entered the world did disarray, disorder, dysfunction, and disease in all its ugliness plague mankind.
           Yet, man retained his innate desire for a perfect world, one of unity and beauty.
           All our days we strive for the good, the right, the lovely, but that desire did not originate in our own thoughts. God planted the seed deep within that nothing can destroy. That yearning for the beautiful is meant to drive us to the Beautiful One who holds the key to perfection. Only in His death, burial, and resurrection can we know Him and truly understand what beauty really is. It is through His promise of a restored heaven and earth that one day true, undaunted beauty will be unveiled.
        So, as you gather to celebrate Christmas this year and enjoy the glittering tree, blazing fire, golden, roasted turkey, and laughter of family and friends, remember the One who gifted you with all things beautiful.
           And humbly thank Him.
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