Our Creator has placed a longing for beauty in our hearts. His Word reveals one authoritative standard for true beauty. It is not found at expensive makeup counters. It has nothing to do with one’s physical traits. Real beauty is sourced in holy character, found only in Jesus Christ.

In the Song of Solomon, Jesus is likened to a “rose of Sharon,” outstanding in His beauty. At first glance, this seems to be a contradiction when compared to Isaiah’s description in Isaiah 53:2: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Christ’s beauty was veiled in plain human flesh, cloaked in humility. Yet, His cheeks were likened to beds of spices, yielding sweet perfume, speaking of costly sacrifice. Faith in His shed blood on the cross achieves the ultimate beauty makeover, cleansing us from sin. As we humbly submit to the daily washing by His Word, He beautifies and adorns us with continual salvation from sin, reviving His Spirit in us.

Jesus’ lips are likened to lilies dripping with sweet-scented and costly myrrh: holy words that speak love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and goodness. His words implanted in your heart and spoken from your lips impart the dazzling beauty of holiness.

Jesus invites you to freely access His supernatural beauty supplies. Receive His Words that cleanse and restore your soul with His purity and holiness. He will give you the ultimate face-lift as you lift your face to Him. Your transformed character will radiate with the resplendent glory of Jesus Christ.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy.”

Psalm 103: 2, 4

At salvation, God’s nature was placed at the core of our being. His Holy Spirit came to live in our spirit. If a mirror could be placed in front of your spirit, you would see a reflection of God – His Spirit within you. The Christian journey is learning to continually listen to and surrender to the life of God in our spirit, instead of being led and controlled by the familiar patterns of our flesh. It’s a lifelong process led by God through the reflective properties of His Word:

“Get rid of all uncleanness and rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls” (James 1:21).

The process, as stated in the verse above, begins as you receive, agree with and believe God’s Word. Transformation occurs as you repent when God reveals where your reflection does not resemble Christ’s. Sincere repentance releases a supernatural power that leads to a change in your thinking, and ultimately a change in your behavior.

Whatever your sin struggle, you can profess: “That’s not who I am in my spirit.” Reflect your true image in Christ using the mirror of God’s Word. Filling in the blank with your specific sin, confess: I’ve been believing and acting  ________________________.

Then profess: But the truth is, because God is in me, ______________________.

In time, you will stand in awe as the person you see in the mirror begins to reflect the Spirit of God in you.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

God calls each of His children to undergo spiritual metamorphosis. This is the process of being transformed into the image of Christ. This holy transformation is how God’s kingdom of light, His glory, is spread throughout the earth by His people, the church.

At salvation, we are like an emerging butterfly. Brand new creatures in Christ, our old nature is gone and new life has come. We have wings of faith that must be unfurled and exercised. God uses His Word to strengthen us as we feed upon and obey it.

An integral part of our recreation is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Like the wings of a butterfly, God’s Word is activated by the Spirit to lift us to new freedoms in Christ. Our wings of faith are tested by different air currents: troubles, trials and disappointments. As we surrender to the authority of Christ’s Word and Spirit, He enables us to resist temptation and respond to troubling difficulties in the all-sufficient grace of Christ.

Are you experiencing the freedom from sin that a life of faith and obedience to Christ brings? Cocoon yourself with Him in daily fellowship, receiving His words. What will be the result? Like the divinely designed patterns on a butterfly’s wings, you will display the intricate beauty and glory of your Maker. He will continue to unfold dazzling wings of faith that will lift you high above evil, morphing you into His holy likeness. Others will see your good deeds and be drawn to Christ.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

Seeing His offspring threatened and attacked by Satan, the Lion of Judah became the Lamb of God, laying down His life for our sins. In doing so, Jesus defeated Satan. He conquered death. He rescued us from Satan’s kingdom of darkness and the power of sin. He brought us into His glorious kingdom.

To successfully live in God’s kingdom, we too must rise up with fierce tenacity and boldness:

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing (endured violent assault), and forceful men lay hold of it (with ardent zeal and intense exertion)” (Matthew 11:12).

Jesus spoke the words above in response to a question from John the Baptist: “Are you the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). John sent his question from a prison cell, trapped in a circumstance he did not understand. Jesus lovingly encouraged him:

“Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account on Me” (Matthew 11:6).

Like Jesus, to rise up like a mighty lion we must first bow low as a sacrificial lamb. When circumstances overwhelm and confuse us, we must relinquish our evaluations and expectations to the Sovereign will and goodness of God. Then, we must rise and fight to believe. We fight to believe that Jesus is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do. In believing, we will receive:

“The promise comes by faith so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed” (Romans 4:16).

Is a current circumstance causing you to “fall away” from God? Bow low and confess your disappointment and frustration. Release your own expectations. Then, ask God for the strength to rise up with mighty faith and believe.

As noble and prestigious as any earthly royal inheritance may be, there are none that compare with the inheritance of God’s children. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have become the royal children of the King of kings; we were transferred from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom of light.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Adopted into God’s family with unconditional love, we inherit the constant and intimate companionship of the King of kings. His Spirit lives in us to rule and reign in our hearts. Our inheritance is to mature as holy children under the Spirit’s tutelage, and guidance. We delight to commune with our King in the royal courts of prayer and fellowship. He teaches us to discard lie-based thinking and sinful behaviors that characterized our old identity as “commoners,” when we lived outside of God’s royal family. As we walk according to God’s truth, His kingdom is established on earth as it is in heaven through our obedience to Him.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Unlike earthly kings and kingdoms, there will be no end to King Jesus’ rule. Is your inheritance, the beauty of Christ’s holiness, characterizing your life as His royal child? Leave your “commoners’” customs behind. Put away your tarnished tiaras of self-glorification. Let God crown you with His shining splendor as you come, believe and receive from Jesus.

“You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”

Isaiah 62:3