Have you ever discovered the age of someone and found it hard to believe
they were so young when you were certain they were at least 10 years older??
It forces you to wonder what causes them to look so "weathered", figuratively
speaking. Naturally we want to prevent such a thing from happening to
us, amen? We women like to preserve ourselves and postpone the affects
of old age as long as possible, don't we? We enjoy it when folks are pleasantly
surprised at how young we might appear. Yet the Bible tells us that if
we live right, our faces will wear a glow that no cosmetic item could
bring about...
Ecclesiastes 8:1, "Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation
of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness
of his face shall be changed."
Here we discover one of God's secrets to a youthful appearance is wisdom.
It is the very foundation of a healthy countenance and life. Wisdom is
found in the Word of God, and reading and heeding it keeps us young at
heart! It affords us the skill to rightfully interpret circumstances in
our life and respond properly to them, thereby resulting in an evident
joy.
Matthew 17: 1-2, "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John
his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was
transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment
was white as the light."
Another secret to a youthful appearance the Lord would let us in on is
sanctification and separation. I know those two words might sound scary
to some Christians, but they are our friends! Sanctification and separation
keep us from doing that which would mar our testimony. All throughout
the Bible, we learn how emphatically the Lord desires that His children
come apart from the world and cleave unto Him. As Jesus himself exemplified
in the verse above,
when we do, there will be a glow in our countenance that will be hard
to ignore! You see, our faces are mirrors of our personality. A hardened
face suggests a hardened heart... Ladies, what ages us is sin and sinful
living, for it brings a dullness and premature aging to our countenance.
If you're participating in evil, it's going to show up on your face!
2 Cor. 6:17, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you..."
Col. 2:21, "Touch not; taste not; handle not..."
Make no mistake about it, your relationship with the Lord is key to transforming
your appearance from dull to glowing! That which is going on within you,
will naturally manifest itself in your countenance. How are your personal
devotions going these days? Are you pulling away from the world and your
responsibilities to spend quality time with the Lord? Faith cometh by
hearing and hearing by the Word of God, amen? Yes, faith also boosts our
appearance as was the case with Stephen...
Acts 6:15, "And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him,
saw his face as it had been the face of an angel."
Stephen was a Spirit-filled man who had been preaching the gospel in the
synagogue. The Bible says in an earlier scripture that people were not
able to resist the wisdom and power by which he spake... Not surprisingly,
he met up with quite a bit of opposition. There were those who stirred
up the people against him and interrupted his ministry to drag him before
the council. However, in the midst of slanderous charges and heavy persecution,
his enemies described his face as that of an angel! Circumstances did
not change Stephen's countenance, his personal relationship with the Lord
preserved it! From within radiated the glow of grace and glory....Yes,
the love of the Lord Jesus for his persecutors shone on his face.
Now, think about your face the last time you were in an intense setting...
Did you look like an angel or a devil?? What type of expression would
those around you say you were sporting at the time of your trial? Ladies,
when you and I are full of faith as Stephen was, we won't appear to be
in a battle, we will radiate the same courage and peace he owned. Even
in the midst of persecution, your persecutors will search your countenance
for the faith you claim to hold in your heart. Has faith been visible
in your life?? Has the smile of holiness illuminated your features even
when you've been treated badly? Gone are the deep crevices of worry and
stress upon our demeanor when the deep well of faith in Christ
exists within our souls!
2 Cor. 3:6-9, "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven
in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly
behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory
was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather
glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more
doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory."
Another key ingredient to a glowing appearance is ministry. Moses had
the job of getting with God and then bringing the law of the Old Testament
to the people.
Even though there was a message of condemnation upon his lips, Moses still
glowed! As a matter of fact, the people could not look at his countenance
for any length of time, it was so glorious! He had been with God... Because
the law of Christ was written upon his heart, the love of Christ was shed
abroad through Moses life. Soft hearts are able to receive the impression
of the Lord and then share the message of salvation with others, amen?
God's message should always be upon our lips... Ministering to people
keeps you healthy spiritually and brings a vivacity to your person that
cannot be denied. Sharing the gospel quickens and rejuvenates, creating
in you an energy that no vitamin can ever manufacture! Ladies, don't allow
yourself to be put in a spiritual nursing home and retire from serving
the Lord. Stay young and healthy and alive spiritually by ministering
to others!
Proverbs 16:15, "In the light of the King's countenance is life...."
In closing, we can save ourselves lots of money when it comes to buying
cosmetics and lotions and cold creams etc. to keep ourselves looking young
and healthy simply by doing right according to the Lord. You will naturally
acquire a youthful glow that will cause others to marvel at your ability
to preserve your appearance. When someone approaches you for the secret
to looking so good and asks what products you are using, why not tell
them it's the Word of God?
Yes, your face is a billboard for the Lord - advertise a pure life!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
