How To Improve Your "Looks"

As we gather around Jesus as the church, we become a new creation!  For as we gather around Jesus, we’re loved by Jesus, becoming His very bride, as Jesus makes us “…holy -- cleansing [us] by the washing with water through the word… [presenting us] …as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish…” (Ephesians 5:25-27, emphasis added). 

Its interesting the word “radiant” means literally, in the Greek:  glorious – splendid – beautiful – gorgeous.  And so there’s a real advantage to coming to church – for no matter what you see in the mirror - winkles, gray hair – blemishes – a turkey neck – you’re better looking "in church," than before you walked through the church door!  I mean by virtue of rallying around Jesus, of being a part of the Church – you’re more beautiful than ever before!  No, let me be more ever more precise – you’re more gorgeous than ever before!

But it’s sad:  because a lot of us don’t really believe that.  I mean a lot of us will politely read through this message, go through a church/worship service, and then go out and search for another gathering -- trying to beautify and fix ourselves.  But it’s all for naught.  

A story illustrates such tendency.  Seems a husband and wife who were feeling really down, suffering through a mid-life crisis.  But then one day, a voice boomed from heaven:  “never fear: you’re going to live to be 100 years of age.”  And with that couple was ecstatic.  “Honey,” the husband exclaimed – “God just said we’re going to live to be 100; life is worth living after all!!  But we better look the part.”  And with that, the couple bounded off to a plastic surgeon and ordered “the works.”  I mean they got a face lift, hair restoration, chin implants, a nose job, a tummy tuck -- a total make-over.  Well, a week later the couple went back to the plastic surgeon for a follow-up visit – only to get run over and killed by a truck!  Arriving in heaven, the couple was furious.  “Listen God” the wife protested:  “I thought you said we’d live to be 100!!  Why did you let that truck run over and kill us?  “Oh that’s easy,” the Lord replied:  I didn’t recognize either of you!

But we're always recognized, if we’re in Christ! I love the way Jude nets this out in Jude 24+25:  “To him, [to Jesus] who is able to keep you from falling -- and to present you before his presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ…now and forever more. (Jude 24, 25). 

It’s interesting another version of this sentiment is found in Ephesians 3, underscoring the role of the Church. “…To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the Church, and in Christ Jesus…”  (Ephesians 3:20-21, emphasis added).    

And so in our quest for greater meaning in life, for a greater sense of community, for a savior, only one combination delivers:  Christ and the glorious gathering called, the church!