"Wiped Clean"

I draw inspiration for these articles from different places. The inspiration for this one came from perusing the web and coming across an article on a site for an Atlanta online magazine called Rolling Out. The article was entitled “20 Natural Beauties and Famous Uglies!” by Zondra Hughes. It contained several pictures of some of today’s hottest female stars without make up, next to a picture of them with make up on. Their faces had been completely “wiped clean” of makeup. Some were described as less attractive or a “hot mess” without their Hollywood glam looks. That made me think women aren’t the only ones who go to great lengths to impress with their looks. Men also spend time and money on their looks. We all do. I know some females who won’t go anywhere without make up and some males who won’t leave home without perfect creases in their pants. Appearances are very important to us. It often leads people to judge or treat others a particular way, not to say that is right. Have you ever met someone so sharply dressed and refined that you thought he or she must be a person of high standards and importance? But once you got to know them, you found they were exactly the opposite of their outer appearance. I don’t know about you but I have been guilty of looking a person and assuming that he or she was a certain way solely based on looks. We do this to others but are outraged when it happens to us. You never truly know a person until you know what is in his or her heart. In the wake of the Trayvon Martin tragedy and the “Hoodie Revolution,” I think it is imperative to understand the importance of allowing a person’s heart rather than just their appearance to speak for them. Proverbs 27:19(NKJV) says, “As in water, face reveals face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.” And John 7:24(NKJV) says, “Do not judge according to appearance but judge with righteous judgment.” So let us remember this the next time we meet a stranger for the first time or observe someone who looks differently than we do. Because when it is all said and done, though our appearance and actions are important and God sees them, He also looks at the heart; and He knows all. Let Him wipe your heart clean like a woman without makeup and allow the beauty of His love and righteousness to permeate within you. Think about it. "Published in On the Rocks Arrest" 5/8/12