In many cases, it is quite possible that the old saying is true:
“Beauty is only skin deep.”

Because of his looks, Jeremy Meeks has many admirers. And where did most of his admirers first see him? Answer: When the Stockton, CA, police department posted his mug shot on their Facebook page. His mug shot went viral and now Meeks has signed on with an agent in the hopes of helping him to develop a career as a model. All of this is based on his physical appearance, not his “appearances” in court.

Last month, police arrested Meeks in Stockton after he left a house where search warrant was about to be carried out. A gun, ammunition and a small amount of marijuana were allegedly found in his car, police said. Meeks was charged with five felony weapon charges and one gang charge. Meeks’ record reveals that he is a convicted felon who has been arrested multiple times since 2002, when the now 30-year-old served a two-year sentence for grand theft of a person, according to Stockton police. According to KTXL-TV in Stockton, Meeks was convicted of theft in 2005 and forgery in 2007 and served less than 75 days total for both offenses.

Shouldn’t it disturb us that a person gets national attention as a model based on his physical appearance despite the fact that he is a criminal? Adapting a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color [or the appearance, DAS] of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Perhaps another old saying should be emphasized: “Pretty IS as pretty DOES.” Defining the meaning of this idiom, the Free Dictionary (www.thefreedictionary.com) states, “Just because you are good-looking does not mean you are a good person.”

Samuel thought he had the new king picked out from the sons of Jesse because Eliab looked the part. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’”
– 1 Samuel 16:7

Here is REAL BEAUTY: to see a sinner transformed into a saint, to see a person “wrapped up in himself” become focused on serving God and others, to see an image marred by sin changed more and more into the image of Christ.

THIS is the change – from the inside out – that God desires to effect in each and every one of us!

The transformation begins when we place our faith and trust in Jesus who died on the cross for us to set us free from sin (Acts 16:30-31), when we turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

The transformation continues as we “fix our eyes” on Jesus as our model and the Way of our salvation (Hebrews 12:2; John 14:6). As we continue to focus our lives on following Jesus, His blood continues to wash away our sins (1 John 1:7) and we are transformed more and more into His likeness (Romans 8:29). Now that is REAL beauty!

Won’t YOU submit your life to the only One who can bring true, lasting “beauty” into your life?