Cosmetic Issues

A few years ago, my family and I went on a medical service trip to Kolkata, India. The group set up free mobile clinics in poor villages and hundreds of patients showed up daily for the free medicines we were distributing. Surprisingly, an inordinate number of them were seeking help for cosmetic issues. Many of them wanted to know if we had any products to make their hair grow thicker, or shinier! We would kindly remind them that the medicines we were dispensing were mainly for their internal health.

Could this world and everything in it be like what is outside our skin? As humans, we are more concerned about visible, noticeable, tangible problems; but a few inches below the visible layer is a vast Spiritual realm. Many of our earthly concerns—today’s struggles and tomorrow’s worries—must seem like cosmetic issues to God. His purpose is to heal and transform us at a soul level; whereas we seek solutions for external, physical problems. I pray daily for my family, my friends, our futures, our health, our safety, and our peace. God cares for me enough to dispense some blessings, but His primary goal is to transform me into His image.

“He (God) decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.” (Romans. 8:29-30 MSG)

God wants to restore us to His original design. His plans go beyond the cosmetic concerns of this earthly life. Christ-formation—shaping each of our lives into the mold of His child—this is His intended purpose.