How To Become Ugly.

[skyblue888]

I stumbled over this short article tonite.

HOW TO BECOME UGLY.

Have you ever watched the deteriorating effects of sin even upon the personal appearance? Take a youth of extreme beauty, and let him, little by little, be led into wicked practises; in proportion as he is so led, will the register of his descent be written upon his face and upon his whole attitude and manner, quite imperceptibly, I admit, but with awful exactness and depth. The eye, once so clear and so steady in its look, will be marked by suspicion, uncertainty, or timidity of movement. Its glances will not be like sun rays darting through thick foliage, but rather like a dark lantern, turned on so skilfully to see what is happening here and there, but throwing no light on the man who holds it. And strange lines will be woven around the mouth; and the lips, so well cut, so guileless and generous, will be tortured into ugliness and sensual enlargement. And the voice, once so sweet, so ringing, the very music of a character unstained and fearless, will contract mocking tones, and give itself up to a rude laughter, partly deceitful and partly defiant.

All this will not happen in one day.

Herein is the subtlety of evil. If you do not see the youth for years, you may be shocked when you miss the fine simplicity and noble bearing which you associated with his name. This is a part of the man's punishment. It is the spot of leprosy on a forehead once so open and unwrinkled; and it will grow, and spread, and deepen until there is no place left for him but the silent and inhospitable wilderness." Dr. Parker, Signs of the Times, Vol.4, p.16, Feb.1, 1899.

Interesting, isn't it?

sky

[Guest]

Yes, quite.

[jasd]

Nice sentiment; however, it is more poetic than not, yes? I mean, most people become more spiritually pure with age - yet seldom can it be said that one becomes more attractive with age. I speak from self-awareness.

I was no saint from my youth forward - yet it was old age that clothed upon me as moth-eaten raiment upon a painted museum piece.

Samson and Delilah. Were there no women of beauty among the tribes?--that Samson would be so smitten by such a wicked woman?

I've seen 'worldly' women that like to break a man's heart just to gaze upon them - and I've seen Gdly women whose beauty was hidden...

There is nothing under the sun that can withstand time.

[skyblue888]

jasd, as was stated in the article, this does not happen in one day but over time. Look at Lucifer for example. Mrs. White described the effects of his rebellion upon his personal appearance. Have you ever read that? I believe it is found in the book, Story of Redemption, but I lost my copy.

sky

[Gordon1]

There's an element of truth to your beauty comments skyblue.

Yet in Christ, "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." Isaiah 52:14.

[skyblue888]

There's an element of truth to your beauty comments skyblue.

Yet in Christ, "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." Isaiah 52:14.

__________________

Good point, Gordon. One's personal appearance can be marred by continual persecution and rejection by those who reject truth and righteousness.

I understand that Michelangelo took many years to do his Last Supper painting. When it was the turn of Judas, he went in search of a man. One day he spotted him. The man sat for him only to discover later that it was the same man he had years before picked to represent Jesus.

sky

[Gordon1]

"...he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him,

there is no beauty that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2

[Gail]

Great thoughts!

I think that joy transcends wrinkles, don't you?

[skyblue888]

do you have pimples Gail? :)

[Gail]

Not any more... I think I've arrived! (tic)

[Gail]

When I was new to the faith and was attending quite a few evangelistic meetings, I couldn't help but appreciate that the speakers (who shall remain nameless) were sort of homely-looking. But the messages were so good that I learned to love the messages!

There is something to be said for the "ugly" concept, and I mean in a positive sense.

I remember once seeing 2 preachers, not good-looking by any means, singing together on screen. I noted to my sister that they were 2 roots out of dry ground if ever I did see some!

But it is easier that way to think that the evangelists are not in it for them, for personal glory so to speak, when they are ordinary-looking and especially more so if they are down-to-earth, genuinely nice people.