Man’s view of beauty is different from God’s view. God sees beauty in the spiritual; man sees it in the physical. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are his ways our ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are God’s ways higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).
This explains why the ostrich looks outwardly beautiful and yet is ugly inside. It symbolizes physical but not spiritual beauty. It radiates the glory of the world but does not shine forth the light of God. “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?” (Job 39:13) No!
The message is clear. Be careful of the beauty the world offers. Out of it may come the aesthetics of temporary gratifications, but never the glory of eternal things. We are called to desire the substance of God’s glory and not the ephemeral things of the world. We are made to behold the enduring truths of God and not the seasonal wisdom of worldly saints.
A church building is not necessarily beautiful until you can scoop out the holiness content of the worshippers within. This cannot be done with the best eyes of a trained detective, but with the piercing touch of those called to be the light of the world. A well-dressed man in the congregation is not necessarily beautiful until you can excavate the hidden crevices of his heat. Again, this can only be done with a spiritual shovel handled by a visionary whose knees have known the pain of persistent waiting on God.
Satan’s methods are clear and we should not be unmindful of his devices. He gives seemingly good gifts first, before dropping his poison in our lives. He begins by making man prosperous, but eventually causes him to lose his soul. God’s own pattern is the reverse. “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
The children of Israel experienced the bondage of slavery before the fruits of the Promised Land. Joseph suffered the degradation of prison walls before enjoying the honour of a prime minister. Job faced the temptation of a believer before claiming the prosperity of the faithful. Jesus learnt obedience by suffering before his translation into glory.
The ugly circumstances we face today are the stepping stone to glory. They are the springboard for our translation into victory. But we must have the ability to see the silver lining behind the threatening cloud. They sharpen our spiritual eyes, making us alert for the redemption of souls. They are the rains behind the dark clouds. “Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning”.
Beloved, do not do the last things first and the first things last. Let not your joy come in the night if sorrow is bound to accompany it in the morning. Be bold to confront your problems in the night that the joy of the Lord may be your strength in the morning. Hold forth to the pillars of light that darkness may be abolished from your life.
In the march of faith, only God can come from heaven to the earth and go back to heaven. Our own route is clear cut. It is a narrow path that leads to the boundless paven roads in the sky. To be qualified for heaven we must first persevere in conquering the tribulations of the earth and be faithful to God in our calling. For the path to perfection must first subdue the imperfect path of human weakness.
Thank God we are not alone. We have the keys of the kingdom delivered by our Lord and Saviour – Jesus Christ. We have His name, we have His blood and we have His testimony. But His standards are tough and only the faithful, the diligent and those who can carry the cross will make the crown.
