IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

An ad on TV for a hair replacement product makes this closing pitch: “Whatever your age, invest in your image.” Not a subtle appeal!

Now before I take aim and fire at this demonic message, I’ll admit that there’s a measure of simple realism in it: almost all of us pay at least a little attention to our image; we brush (or otherwise organize) our hair, use deodorant, and follow some notion of style when choosing clothes. Who can object to that?

But it’s profoundly different to be caught up in “image,” to feel that your identity and self-worth are somehow on the line when it comes to looking good. Andre Agassi says (for Canon cameras), “Image is everything,” but the humble Christian cries out, “NO.” Substance is MUCH more important than image!

In fact, a preoccupation with image is opposition to God: “The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the out­ward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Outward beauty is but deception if the heart is not pure and right before God (Matthew 23:27-28). This earthly body we long to keep looking young is but a fading flower (Psalm 103:15-16); it’s just a “tent” for our very short stay in this life (2 Corinthians 5:1).

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!” Am I caught up in externals? Are you preoccupied with your image, with how others look? Do you “measure” the people around you by outward appearance or inner beauty? Remember that the Lord looks upon the heart.