Pretty as a Picture...

 When I was 12, my brother gave me this postcard. ​It was not new at the time and it has "aged" somewhat through the years. However, I think you can see it clearly.  If you look closely, you will see the name of Dorian Gray over the picture in question.

At that time, I had absolutely no idea who Dorian Gray was, nor the significance of his picture. Like my 10 year old brother, I saw only the weird ugliness. He meant it as a joke and I have kept it for sentimental reasons.

​In literature, Dorian Gray was a handsome young man who had his portrait painted. Dorian followed others down the wrong path. Soon his little sins became greater and greater. The sin did not show on his comely face. The passing of years did not affect his features.

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While Dorian remained young and handsome, his every depravity marked the painting that he kept hidden in a locked room.  Once as beautiful as he, the painting showed the features of a horrible monster.  He tried to pretend goodness, but the secret of the painting was revealed. When the painting was destroyed, he took all its ugliness on himself.

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You might see Dorian's story as a metaphor for Satan. Once a most beautiful angel, he was kicked out of heaven. Though he pretends goodness and he temps us with the fleshly "beauty" of the things of the world, the Truth will reveal him for the ugliness that he is.

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​In a recent Purity class with our 6th grade girls, we discussed the effects of sin on a pure white garment. On the day you accept Christ’s salvation, you are washed white as snow. Your “garment” or soul is pure and white. Each sin puts dirt and stains on your garment. A little white lie here, a little bad language there, can add up over time. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit convicts (not condemns) us of these sins. If we repent and ask forgiveness, the righteousness of Christ washes our garment clean.

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I began to think about this postcard and the story of Dorian Gray. It  is a metaphor for our soul. The sins we commit do not always show our face. (Though I do believe that over many years you can sometimes read the results of sin---depression, desolation, and/or depravity in a person's face.) However, they stain our soul.

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​Instead of a pure white garment, think of a beautiful new painting of you. This is how God sees you when you are saved. He sees you through the lens of the precious blood of Christ--perfect and unblemished, as innocent as a newborn lamb.

Salvation does not make us perfect. In this world, we are still human. We daily, hourly, fight the desires of the flesh. We must remain vigilant if we want our spiritual image to remain pure and beautiful in the eyes of God.

If the image of our soul were available to us, what would we see? Did that little white lie put a big ugly zit right in the middle of your forehead? What about that dress you stole for your little girl? Did it put a putrid boil on your cheek? Did your words put a humongous fever blister on your mouth?  When you lusted after that good-looking person, did it inflame and infect your eye? Are you beginning to get the picture? (Sorry for the pun.) 

Now, imagine this image of yourself. This is what God sees when he looks at your unforgiven sins.
 
You can listen to the devil's lies and let your sins make a monster of the reflection of your soul.  (i.e. a white lie is not as bad as a big lie; God will forgive you for stealing clothes for your little girl because she needs to have new clothes like everyone else; it is not gossip if it is the truth; there is no harm in looking. ) As my Pastor says, "these are lies from the pit of Hell.
Or, you can repent of these sins.

Repentance is not just asking and expecting forgiveness

Repentance is not just about asking and receiving forgiveness. I believe it is a perfect 7 part process.
 

1. Reject Satan’s lies
2. Recognize that you have committed sin.
3. Regret that you have committed sin; being truly sorry
4. Report or admit your sin to God and anyone you have wronged
5. Request forgiveness
6. Renew your mind (continually)
7. Righteousness of Christ covers you and brings forgiveness

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 What does God see when he looks at your soul? Are you as pretty as a picture?