the basic message #E216
11/21/03
I'm trying to watch less TV these days, but even on a TV "diet" I still seem to catch more programs than I should. One of most popular shows these days is "Extreme Makeovers". For those of you that haven't seen the show, allow me to explain the concept. Basically they take letters and videos from people who are, shall we say, really ugly, who want to be handsome or pretty. Some of these folks have conditions they were born with, while others suffer from self-induced problems stemming from overeating or from spending too much time in the sun, as examples. It's really amazing what the plastic surgeons, dentists and makeup people can do to transform the outward appearances of these people. I've noticed that whether it's women or men, they almost always say the same thing after they're rebuilt: "I feel like I have no limits- I can do anything." It would seem that along with the new look, they also have new self-confidence.
I'd like to propose a new program called "Extreme Makeover- Holiness". I'd guess that if the show ever aired, it might run one episode before getting cancelled since the viewership would probably be light. It seems that people want to change the external, but worry little about the internal. Is Jesus concerned about our outward appearances, or is he more concerned about our holiness and discipleship? Let's see:
Matthew 18:8
"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire."
Hmmm, it seems like the only surgery Jesus is recommending would tend to make a person look worse, rather than better. I was in a Bible study class one night when we were discussing this passage, and my pastor said that Jesus wasn't speaking literally when he said this. I asked the pastor to explain how he had come to that conclusion, and all he could say was, "well, you don't think Jesus was telling us to cut off a hand or foot do you?" Well, pastor, I can't see anywhere in that passage that says it was a parable or a joke, so yes, I'll have to think that Jesus was very serious. Since I have 2 hands and 2 feet, I haven't applied that passage literally to my own life, but to reduce the words of Jesus because they're hard to accept is foolish.
The sad fact is that the "Extreme Makeovers" people are getting will likely cause them to sin. How so? Picture this: a homely lady has been happily married for 20 years and wants to be pretty. So far, no problem. Apparently the husband, though content in the marriage, supports her decision to have the makeover. We can begin to see that selfishness and vanity are about to invade the marriage. After the makeover, the previously homely lady has emerged with a completely new look, and along with that look a new confidence. The guys at work are mesmerized by how great she looks, and she is fully aware of their gawking and ogling. Human nature is a strange thing sometimes. This lady, although unattractive before, might have had a good marriage and home life, but now that's being threatened. Some of you will think I'm some sort of nut or radical, and I probably am, but think about this: Satan is reveling in this moment of seeing the lady now flirting with guys that previously had no interest in her. Maybe she tolerated plenty of her husband's faults before, but now that she has become a swan instead of an ugly ducking, she isn't quite as forgiving now. Maybe her new looks allow her to move into a better, higher paying job, again reducing the need for her husband. Satan looks over the situation and is overjoyed, as he well should be. Imagine for a moment how Satan's plans unfold in a situation like this. It begins with a person who isn't happy with their looks. Allow me to say at this point that I believe some folks on the program, like the lady with the cleft-palette, are worthy candidates for a makeover, but for the majority of the others, they're just unhappy with what God gave them to start with. Couldn't each and every one of us find something about our looks that we'd like to change? Anyhow, the whole thing starts off harmless enough- someone gets picked to be on the show, and the process usually takes about a month or so. In all cases, the person is separated from their family and loved ones for an extended period of time. This is Satan's first victory- divide and conquer. Maybe that shy, unattractive lady has never been away from home more than a day or two prior to the makeover. When the ordeal is over, she is now fully aware that she can indeed be away from her family and the world didn't come to an end. Also consider that during this 4-6 week period, she's hanging out with some of the plastic surgeons, personal fitness trainers and makeup artists of the stars. Literally, these are some of the same people who deal with the big name entertainers on a daily basis, so it's also an ego trip. Apparently one of the rules is that the person must be completely separated from her family to enhance the "Oh, my God!" response when they see her after the makeover. Again, Satan empowers the woman to understand that she can successfully do things on her own.
Needless to say, the culmination of events comes after the bandages are off and the scars heal. Is it possible that the made-over person's needs have also changed during the transformation? I can see a comparison with this and winning the lottery- there is probably a much bigger downside than upside. What does God see when he looks down on the person? He sees the same thing as he saw before- a sinner that needs Grace to make it out of this world. Perhaps the sinner looks better to us, but God's vision never changes. What does God want? I think he wants extreme makeovers in the way we interface with him. He's fed-up with the phony church that gathers on Sunday morning and lifts hands skyward, looking towards Heaven with serene gazes, yet go into the world meaner than snakes. God is unimpressed with outward appearances- he wants changes of heart, where it really counts. A beautiful person has little value in Heaven if they don't have love for God and all of God's children. Some folks like to think that a Christian must only love other Christians. Find that in the Bible, for Jesus stated very clearly that we are to love everyone- regardless of how hard it is. Most Christians negotiate with God when it comes to their personal holiness, and sadly, the modern Christian church largely teaches and supports this. Make no mistake, friend, when our day comes for us to stand before God, we will indeed answer for how we structured our loyalty to God. There are millions upon millions in the world today that have no real idea what their priorities in life should be. They chase after things of no value, and with each day diminish their relationship with Jesus. The Master had something to say about this too:
Luke 9:25
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"