Sometimes when preaching in my early twenties I would say some outrageous things, and looking back cringe at the foolishness of the comments; that’s youth, but as we mellow we begin realise our immaturity and lack of life knowledge. I once said “I will never marry a woman who wears makeup,” and there were titters round the church. I further compounded it by emphasising that the “same woman who went into the bathroom would be the same woman who came out” [In other words she wore no makeup and so was unchanged] and someone quick as a flash said loud enough for all to hear in the congregation “I certainly hope so too!”
Fortunately, I did fall in love with a woman with fair skin and a beautiful complexion and she wore no makeup, and my words were therefore fulfilled, by God’s good grace. However, some women definitely need makeup, of that there is no doubt! But one wonders what of the inner man or soul, how does that obtain makeup, for often our face reflects our internal turmoil and stress. The first thing that attracts us when speaking of the opposite sex is their appearance, you cannot see their soul or spirit just by looking across a crowded room.
Cosmetics has a long history, and it is now accepted that Neanderthal women carried scallop shells which contained pigment residues which were thought to be the basis of cosmetics; some 150,000 years ago. More recently advanced technology has revealed through a CT scan the facts about a woman called Tamut, who lived about 900 years before Christ and was a singer in the Temple of Luxor. Her hair was cut short to allow a wig to be worn, so vanity or an attempt to touch up the image has been prevalent through the centuries.
Egypt was a nation that used cosmetics extensively and gave birth to a style still used today. One reason was to protect against the harsh weather conditions; too bright sunlight and air born grit on the fierce winds. Even their Gods were painted, and most of those who used these paints and potions used a brush, and also they had full body cosmetics. Visitors were amazed at the extent of its use in the populace. “Religious priests guarded the secret of many recipes for ceremonial oils for they objected to Egyptian traders sharing these products with neighbouring nations.” A bit like patents today.
In 2 Kings 9:30 we read “When Jezebel heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair . . .” and in Esher 2:9 Mordechai put forward his adopted daughter to catch the eye of the king “The girl pleased him [The king] and won his favour. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.” They used to anoint these maidens for six months with perfumed oil before being brought to the king’s chamber. With so much oil I would assume she would slip out of your hands! Thus, to early Christianity painting of the eyes and lips spoke of evil and loose women.
However, whatever is or is not said about beautification, it is more than skin deep. My wife never wore makeup but there was a loveliness in her that radiated outwards from her soul. It came from over 40 years suffering and combating a deteriorating physical condition — in and by God’s strength.
God said in 2 Cor 2:16 – “To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” Smell is part of cosmetics, but in a spiritual sense it is also part of the Christian life in the spirit. To achieve that in mankind I assume God has three large jars of anointed ointment, one called trial, another called adversity and the third called suffering. All unique brands. Those applications will cause our soul to smell wonderful. They are the only potions God can use for our refinement and beautification. For Paul says that “this small affliction works for an eternal weight of glory.” For glory read beauty, which will transform any face or situation. Some of the kindest, warmest, loving and gracious people are those who have trod the fire path for many years. That is real beauty. It cannot be washed off and the spiritual mascara will not run when they weep!
