Rebekah McCloud
One afternoon I drove home in a thunderstorm. Ahead of me, the clouds were low and brooding and nearly filled the sky. It was an amazing sight. When I stopped at the traffic light, I took a picture of the clouds. When I got home and stepping out of the car, I noticed that behind me a double rainbow was stretched across the sky.
Wow! Before me and behind me the beauty of God’s handiwork was spread for all to see. Psalms 8:1 says, “Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth, who have displayed your splendor above the heavens.” Psalms 19:1 says it this way, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” God has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But everything God made is beautiful. God labored six days creating the universe. Genesis 1:4 in the Good News Translation (GNT) of the Bible says at the end of the first day, “God was pleased with what he saw.” On the second day he created more and verse 10 says, “God was pleased with what he saw.” God was equally pleased on days three (verse 12), four (verse 18), and five (verse 25). On the sixth day, “God looked at everything he had made and he was very pleased” (verse 31).
God created each of us. When he looks at us, is he pleased? Are we beautiful in his sight? When we see our reflections in the mirror, are we pleased? Are others pleased with what they see? These are big questions; sometimes complicated and deep questions. The answers can be equally big, complicated, and deep.
Here are a few thoughts to consider. Are we beautiful in God’s sight? Of course, we are. We were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). We are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) and he knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13). We are beautiful.
No matter how hard we try, we are all imperfect beings who do not always get things right. Take heart, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Roman’s 3:23). Regardless, God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11) and his salvation is free to all. Romans 5:8 says God loved us even when we were sinners. Thank God we can go to the throne for forgiveness. If I had a dollar for every time I messed up… hmmm.
Although we are imperfect, we are beautiful in God’s sight. Do you like what you see in the mirror? Do others? I cannot answer this. Man looks at the outer and God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). I am striving for him to be pleased with what he sees in me. One day I want to hear him say well done, my good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21). How about you?