Quotation
“Absolute truth is in the Bible. We need to
remember, man's attempt to understand what the meaning of life is a vain
attempt to explain what is true, a human perspective marred by our pride and
arrogance. If we want absolute truth, we need to study God's word!”
Barry Denzil Haney
Verse
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to
wise men; judge ye what I say.
1
Corinthians 10:14-15
Reflection
Whenever I hear the word acne, I cringe. I can still remember
vividly one evening when I was about ten years old my mother was tucking me in
for the night. After saying my nighttime prayer with her, my mother rubbed her
hand across my forehead to console me and made this astonishing statement, now
permanently etched in my memory, “Barry, I'm afraid you are going to have
problems with your complexion as you grow older.”
What! I’m going to have problems with my skin! Did she mean I was
going to die like a friend of mine who just died from childhood leukemia. To
say the least, I was devastated. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of
my lifetime journey with what I like to call the “scourge of acne”.
Why would I use the term “scourge” to describe acne? One of the
definitions of scourge is as follows: cause great suffering to. I rest my case. Acne caused me great suffering during my childhood
and teenage years, continuing throughout my life -- in my sixties I was
diagnosed with acne rosacea.
To say the least I have been very angry my entire
life because of acne. Not only did I struggle with the physical effects of acne
breakouts, but to a greater degree, I struggled with (and still do) the
psychological effects.
What does modern psychology tell us about acne and its effects on
the human psyche?
In the article, “Psychological Impairment in the Patients with
Acne”, the authors make this claim:
“The results of the current study revealed the negative influence
of acne vulgaris on patients’ psychological status that all psychiatric
symptoms such as somatization, obsession, sensitivity, depression, anxiety,
hostility, phobia, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism were associated with
this skin disorder...Based on our findings, the rates of depressive disorders
and psychoticism can be high in acne patients in our population and therefore
psychological consultations should be done in all acne patients, particularly
in those with primary symptoms and primary diagnosis of these two problems.”1
Wow! It looks like I had a reason to be worried at the age of ten.
I can attest that acne deeply impacted me during my early
developmental years, causing me significant psychological damage. During my
late childhood and teenage years, I was depressed, suffered from low
self-esteem, and was socially withdrawn. My preoccupation with my “face”
negatively impacted my education and work, lasting my entire lifetime, even to
this day.
According to the secular worldview, those suffering from acne
probably require psychological consultation to help them deal with the
psychological damage caused by this disease.
Okay, I think you now have a good grasp on the worldview of acne
and its effects on the human psyche. Does God have a different take on acne and
how to manage the psychological impacts of this disease?
If you suffer from acne, the first thing to remember is you are
God’s Masterpiece.
God does not see you as ugly when you are suffering from an acute
acne breakout, instead, He sees you as His beautiful creation. In 1 Samuel 16:7
the Bible tells us God does not see the outward appearance but the
heart:
“But the LORD said unto Samuel,
Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have
refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
One of Satan’s favorite ways to make us spiritually blind is to
have us idolize our bodies. This obsession with our appearance, shifts our
focus from God to our physical condition. To make matters worse, we begin to
compare ourselves with others, despising those whom we feel have been blessed.
No longer are we a conduit for the fruits of the spirit but instead a conduit
for Satan’s lies and deceptions.
In Colossians 3:5, God is telling us to abandon the idolatry of
placing ourselves as the source for all happiness. This self-centeredness leads
to death, eternal separation from God. Paul is telling us to kill
self-centeredness if we want to have an eternal relationship with God.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry:”
It would seem God is telling us not to become preoccupied with our
outward appearance, a form of idolatry, but instead, concentrate on doing what
God would have us to do to further His Kingdom!
Illustration
A Chinese legend tells of a group of cultured
elderly gentlemen who met often to exchange wisdom and drink tea. Each host
tried to find the finest and most costly varieties of tea so as to create
exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests.
When the most venerable and respected of the
group entertained, he served his tea with unprecedented ceremony, measuring the
leaves from a golden box. The assembled epicures praised this exquisite tea.
The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea
our peasants drink. I hope that it will be a reminder to us all that the good
things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.”1446(2)
Prayer
Our Heavenly Father,
Thank you for creating me in Your image.
I know I am beautiful because you made me.
Although I might suffer a physical malady
altering my outward appearance, You have
told me, You only look at the heart!
Help me fight Satan’s temptation to be vain.
Help me to understand, this pride is the same
sin
that led to Adam and Eve’s downfall.
Instead help me to concentrate on what You
Would have me do to further Your Kingdom!
In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord
and Savior,
Amen!
Worship
I Serve a Savior – Josh Turner
https://youtu.be/q6ErPbspVBI
God Bless You,
Barry
1Behnam, Behnaz et al. “Psychological
impairments in the patients with acne.” Indian journal of dermatology vol.
58,1 (2013): 26-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.105281
2Michael P. Green. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand
Rapids, MI: B
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