Thursday, August 9, 2007

Extreme Makeover

Thought: It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.

Bible text: “I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed” (Ezekiel 36:26).

One of the more popular television shows in the past few years has been a program called Extreme Makeover. The show’s “hook” revolves around the belief that people will actually feel different if they can only look different.

I was skeptical at first, but I have to admit the physical transformations that take place are nothing short of miraculous! Through tummy tucks, eye lifts, dental surgery, and a seemingly endless variety of implants, the physical attributes of the patients change in dramatic fashion. They emerge from their former physical selves as though they were beautiful monarchs shedding the imprisoning confines of an ugly chrysalis.

As stunning as these changes are though, I am still of the belief that these people are pretty much the same on the inside as they were before they became so drastically different on the outside. Can that be true even after thousands of dollars spent, dozens of surgeries performed, and hours of physical pain endured? Oh, these people might have a little more confidence, and they may even get a little egotistical, but when it’s all over, the studio lights dim, and the cheering crowd goes home, I believe that they are still, well…themselves!

God’s word is clear that unless we have an extreme spiritual makeover that we will retain the same feelings, desires and habits that we have always wrestled with. We still struggle with self worth, and often wonder to ourselves, “Is this all that life has to offer?”

The fact is, we can make over everything in our lives, but if we don’t allow God to do an extreme spiritual makeover we’ll still be just as miserable as we always were. We can get a new car, a new house, a new job, or even a new spouse, but unless we get to the root of where all happiness comes from we’re going to be right back where we started.

More than a makeover

God’s prescription for true happiness doesn’t involve tummy tucks, facelifts, or maxillofacial surgery. His prescription for a better life is nothing short of an entire heart transplant!

“I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed” (Ezekiel 36:26).

What God promises here is an extreme spiritual makeover that will bring true happiness, peace, and yes, even joy into our lives. And the best news is that we don’t have to make an appointment to have a consultation with the Great Physician. The doctor is always in!

Used with permission from www.e-gracenotes.com

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