>Makeup

The other night I was taking off my eye makeup, and something struck me – my eyes look incredibly different with makeup. They don’t just look brighter – they almost change shape! They look rounder, fuller. Simply by dabbing on some color, eyeliner, and mascara, I can totally change the look of my eyes which, in turn can change the look of my face as a whole.

Noticing the difference of my face with and without eye makeup brought about a deeper – and much more disturbing – thought.

How often do we put on and take off our Christlikeness as if it were makeup?

Looking like Christ is supposed to be something the becomes more progressively true of us as each day passes. The transformation that takes place today should be permanently in place and added onto tomorrow. And yet, all too often we have days when we are Christlike and then days we look nothing like Him. It is truly as if we are putting on our spiritual makeup to show the world that we are becoming like Him. But, when we come home – away from the eyes of the world – we strip off that makeup so we can just kick back and relax.

That’s not real Christlikeness. And, it’s not good enough for me. I long to truly change and grow on a daily basis. To not put on and take off my spirituality like a cosmetic routine, but to wear it proudly and continually, day in and day out, whether I’m surrounded by people or all alone.