“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).

In addition to its ability to point out the stains and wrinkles of our clothes, man has been allowing the mirror to reveal his physical flaws and deformities. However, there is a sharp distinction between utilizing the mirror as a guide to adjust one's apparel as oppose to allowing it to be the gage by which one pinpoints every mark, blemish, and wrinkle etc. We must remember that these marks, blemishes, and wrinkles appear as a result of our sins and not because of God’s inability to create us as impeccable and flawless human beings. The fautless fingers of God can never be surpassed by those of Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, or Picasso.

For many years, man has unconsciously allowed the mirror to exercise its seducing and convincing ability upon him by comparing his beauty to that of his neighbor. (I want to look like Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie and the list goes on and on). Can physical beauty ever be substituted for heart beauty? NEVER!!! It is because of the mirror we know that we age. It is because of the mirror the beauty products cannot remain on the store shelves: lip stick, lip gloss, Vinyl Lip Shine, eye shadow, Eye Glimmer, Liquid Eyeliner, masquerades, nail base and polish, foundation, concealer (this noun derives from the verb’conceal’ meaning: to hide; cover or keep from sight), powders etc. Every word in that list vividly presents the notion of hiding rather than beautifying. It is because of the mirror a new breed of surgeons is constantly in demand: ‘ the plastic surgeons’¹. These surgeons gain an income that has either matched or surpassed that of a general surgeon. With the exception of plastic corrective surgery (badly burned or extremely deformed body parts as a result of a tumor etc.), many have rationalized that these plastic or cosmetic surgeons are the appointed co-workers of God? Is that the way that God meant for His creatures' beauty to be enhanced? The word ‘cosmetic’ is defined as such:

cos·met·ic – noun

1. a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation forbeautifying the face, skin, hair, nails etc.

2. cosmetics, superficial measures to make something appear better.

cos·met·ic – adjective

3. serving to beautify; imparting or improving beauty, esp. of the face.

4. used or done superficially to make something look better, more attractive, or more impressive.

Anyone who adheres to these products may impress a man or a woman but not theEternal God. Not once does Scripture make reference to one’s outward appearance as a representation of a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Beauty that is skin deep has been the trade mark associated with the woman of Revelation 17. Her beauty has been passing on to the human race through her wine of seduction which certainly includes the mirror which has been doing a fine job at telling man that God did a poor job on their given appearance. Let’s think about it this way: Can a pearl necklace, a pair of $ 2,000,000diamond earrings, and a 96 carat gold bracelet all made by the hands of sinful men enhance the God given beauty of any woman or man?

Have we become the helpers of the all-knowing GOD? The Bible presents the beauty of a woman in a much more significant and appreciated manner.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight” (I Peter 3:3-4).

The mirror has become the silent coach, adviser, and reflector before which many have been standing in order to determine the level of their beauty.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”(Psalm 139:14). Did this verse take birth as a result of its author looking in the mirror or was it inspired by the Holy Spirit. Both adjectives (fearfully and wonderfully) occur only one time in the entire Bible.The latter, when analyzed in the original language, presents a more intricate definition. It actually means to be distinct or separated. This verse confirms God’s post creation declaration in the lips of a human being. The author of the psalm is not praising God as a result of plastic surgery or applied make-up; on the contrary, this statement can only be voiced by all those who accept their physical appearance as God intended for it to be. Read over the introductory verse which refers to Christ the Messiah. God measures beauty with a different stick: ‘the heart stick.’

“ A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:10, 30).