There are many things that I love about God. One of those things is that when I spend time with Him, He reveals things to me. A few weeks ago, I was watching a pastor named Joseph Prince form Singapore. He preached to his congregation from the book of Song of Solomon. Not often have I heard a sermon come from this book. I wasn't exactly sure what the topic of the message was or the title. But he read Song of Solomon 1.6, a woman speaking to Jesus saying "Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me; my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keepers of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept" (KJV). Pastor Prince explained that this woman's reference to the sun looking upon her describes her afflictions and her hard times. She is skin conscious and recognizes the pain she wears on her very skin. This woman's image of herself is not of beauty and love, as one made in the very image of God, but an image of blackness and persecution. She goes on to ask Him "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one who turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?" (Song of Solomon 1.7). She asks the Lord where He is feeding His little sheep, where His flock is resting at noon, when the sun is high and hot. She wants a place to lay and feed with her love. This message can be preached about the dialogue between the Savior and this woman. But the note I would like to mention is the response Jesus gives her to answer her question "If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids besides the shepards' tent" (Song of Solomon 1.8, bold added). You will notice that after all the woman speaks about regarding the persecution she goes through and her resulting black and afflicted skin, Jesus delightfully titles her "fairest among women." What a significant difference God sees in us than we see in ourselves.
God revealed something to me: we are most precious in His eyes. When God created the world and all that is in it, He simple spoke these things into existence, "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Gen 1.3). It was a matter of mere words. He did this for five days straight. But on that 6th day, He did something different. He decided to make a creature in the image of the Holy Trinity. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen 1.27). Amazing. The Lord took His time to create creatures in His own image. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139.14)! Pastor Prince went on to say that when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we should see the glory of God reflecting on our faces. This is the majesty of God shining in us.
Today, I encourage you to look upon yourself as a beautiful creature of God. We are not perfect. We are not the brightest, boldest, or bravest. We have flaws, inwardly and outwardly. Our thoughts from our heart are sometimes dark and grim and we can even act unrighteously as a result of those thoughts. We are imperfect. But covered by the crimson blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are made perfect in the eyes of God. Oh afflicted and troubled soul, black from the sun's persecution, you are the fairest among all. Rest in the bliss of His love for you. Look in the mirror as God's glory shines off your face and you reflect on the words of "More Beautiful You" by Johnny Diaz:
There could never be a more beautiful you. Don't buy the lies, disguises, and hoops they make you jump through. You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do. So there could never be a more beautful you.
Blessings
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