Images: The Image Of Men

See, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at Him– His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being, and His form marred beyond human likeness.

Isaiah 52:13-14 (NIV)

The Image of God is a mystery. By design, He’s an 'Invisible God' (Colossians 1:15). 

  • Possibly because He’s all about choice.

  • Certainly, because He’s all about faith.

  • Also because He’s NOT into icons: paintings, symbols, or statues to worship.

  • FAITH IS KEY TO BELIEVE WHAT CAN’T BE SEEN.

Even so, once– Jesus came to see us, and our fathers in faith came to see Him: physically and spiritually! But nowhere in their words is He described. Therein, the intentional mystery about His appearance was furthered.

We must look back to Isaiah’s tough words for troubling glimpses of the coming Christ: descriptions of His deliberate plainness… and His last tortuous disfigurement.

Contrast the questions of God's appearance with stark answers of evil attraction… regarding Lucifer: 'Son of the dawn' (Isaiah 14:12), 'Perfect in beauty' (Ezekiel 28:12).

God’s beautiful angel came to believe in his looks and talents… more than the Almighty’s supremacy.

Satan’s pride grew roots and poisoned his heart. His beauty became a mask God removed… like old makeup at the end of the day.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Regarding people, don't trust what you see. The images of men are illusions: manmade masks, which will surely disappear.

Led by media, fans are super-busy surface skimmers: preferring easy bites to solid truth, headlines to stories, and faces to hearts.

In these unfortunate snapshots of life, consider two real-time disfigurements and one extraordinary conclusion:

  1. Was the Son of God made ugly by scourging with whips?*

  2. Was Nick Vujicic made ugly by birth without limbs?*

  3. Or, in these conditions, was their true beauty revealed?

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

When you look in the mirror at yourself, don't believe what you see is really true. You’re more beautiful than you think you are. (For many others, it’s the opposite!)

Concerning the way people see themselves, the enemy has two key objectives:

  1. Push down God’s future stars with self-loathing (because feeling deficient keeps them bound.)

  2. Pump up his wayward stars to self-worship (because vanity puts them on his team).

Either way, Satan’s purposes are served.

So deny his demons, and remember: 

Silly standards tied to appearances are built on a foundation of fiction. They’re destined to fall. Satan believed in fiction, so he fell. You believe in God’s Truth, so YOU WILL RISE!

Images: The Image Of Men (Part 7)

* Description of Roman scourging (which was different than whipping): http://www.bible-history.com/past/flagrum.html

* Nick Vujicic, handsome husband, father, and worldwide evangelist, was born without arms or legs: http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban