Beauty is the Lord’s
Have you considered that the concept of “beauty” (whether internal or external) points directly to the existence of God the Creator? The very idea of “beauty” is a completely unnecessary idea if we live in a random world with no design. There would be no purpose to have it, and in many circumstances it would be detrimental to survival.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.”
Psalm 19:1-2 NIV
A Grey World
In a world of utilitarian workings, all the universe ticks to the beat of “on” or “off” like a light switch. Either a function works or it doesn’t. There is no need for added embellishment and unnecessary flourishes, for they would serve no purpose.
If a flower needs to attract a bee by its colors as purely functional, we would need only one type to do the job, not thousands upon thousands of variety.
If we need a food chain, we would need one animal species type per level to get it done – not endless variety. You get the point.
Embellishments, variety, and multi-colored multiples show us that we have a God who loves to paint.
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not knowthat the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creatureand the breath of all mankind.”
Job 12:7-10 NIV
The Beauty of Emotions
Emotions are something that we all possess. Our emotions can be protective in nature; serving to keep us from harm, while other emotions guarantee the survival of humanity.
In a world without an all-powerful God, we would have no need of evoking emotions from beauty in the natural world apart from a sense of danger or attraction.
In an art gallery or at a musical concert, have you ever had a sense of awe or even been brought to tears by a moving piece? Why do you experience this and why are you even “wasting” time there in the first place? What purpose does it serve?
From a real estate point of value, why are locations with a view deemed more valuable? Gazing out on a beautiful vista at the beach or mountains and valleys, waterfalls, sands and horizons. Why would gazing out at these views even be useful?
Tap the photos to shop the books
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?”Job 38:4-11 NIV
Inner Beauty and Its Value
Why does inner beauty universally include values and a higher moral code consistent with the descriptions and characteristics reflective of God? Why as a people, do we all gravitate to someone who is loving, kind, truthful, and why do we describe that person as a person of beauty?
Stories from around the world reflect a higher moral character as a thing of beauty, many of these traits would be considered detrimental in survival mode of a universe without higher meaning.
On the flip side, why are we enraged or feel betrayed by acts of cowardice or unfaithfulness? These are moral actions that are reflective of ugly or “lacking in beauty” action. Many of these instances would actually be in a person’s best self-interest in a purely survivalist universe. And yet, it is globally accepted to be actions of a form of baser-self and a looked upon in disgust.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 NIV
The Appreciation of Beauty
At the end of the day, your ability to recognize and be moved by the beauty of the world and people around you gives you a small glimpse of the God who made you, formed you, and loves you.
“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.”Psalm 139:16-16 NIV
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