Confession time. I admit it – I watched the recent ABC series True Beauty. I guess I could call it “research on the human condition”; but really I just was just intrigued – and at times saddened – by how people act when no one is looking. Honestly, some self-examination is probably needed here also!
If you are not familiar with the show (or won’t admit it), here is the show’s description from the ABC website:
The series will determine the True Beauty of six stunning females and four handsome males who will live together in a spectacular Los Angeles mansion as they undergo a series of challenges to determine who is truly the most beautiful.
The gorgeous contestants assume they’re being judged solely on their outer appearance. They’re only half right; outer beauty is one component the judges are looking for, but contestants are also being evaluated — unbeknownst to them — for their INNER beauty as well when they’re put through scenarios and situations that require them to make moral decisions.
I will spare you the details on the show (actually you can “research” it for yourself on ABC’s website.) Most episodes were pretty sad in showing how people acted (although there was some good behavior exhibited.) I’m not completely judging, since basically we are all the same – albeit in varying degrees – and nobody’s perfect except for GOD. Honestly, I’m probably just as guilty of the vanity, selfishness, etc. that was exhibited by the show’s contestants.
The bottom line is that in addition to being a GUT CHECK for me (my heart and my actions), the show really reminded me of what true beauty is – or actually WHO true beauty is: Jesus Christ. His beautiful love for us was and is shown in SO many ways (the biggest of which was His death on the cross for you and for me). In truth, I only truly see but a glimpse of it through my sin-clouded vision (O to Grace how great a debtor…am I).
The little that I am blessed enough to see makes me want to cry out in praise:
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“AWESOME GOD AND GRACIOUS SAVIOR,
YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL!”
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Soak the lyrics below in…but also check out the great video and song story at the bottom.
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You’re Beautiful
Lyrics Phil Wickham
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful
I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who you are
You’re beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful
I see Your face, You’re beautiful,
You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful
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From Jesusfreakhideout.com:
“I wrote this song while leading worship at a youth camp. The theme of the Bible study that night was about how God has revealed bits and pieces of Himself in creation. “Beautiful” was born out of that night. I wanted this song to have a hymn feel to it. Mostly because the imagery in the lyrics reminded me of other hymns we sing. There are four verses in this song and each song is part of a progression. The first verse is about how we see the Lords beauty manifest in the morning/daylight. The second verse is about the night sky, and how His beauty is displayed in it. So there in the first two verses there is a “from morning till night” thing going on. The third verse goes on to speak of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and how through his work there He has allowed us to be apart of His pure and blameless beauty. The last verse is the sum of it all. When we reach heavens shores and see Jesus for who He really is… Beautiful.” – Phil Wickham
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