Dangerous Beauty

After inexplicably escaping her habitat at the San Francisco Zoo, a beautiful Bengal tiger named Tatiana killed one young man and mauled two others.  Confused, scared and out of her element, she had to be killed to prevent further loss of human life.  Viewing the broadcasted report, it was impossible to not marvel at her brilliant coloring, exquisite striping, and elegant movements as well as the surreal truth that something so beautiful could prove so deadly.  

     Some reports claim that the victims had taunted her with slingshots.  If true, I’m sure they felt they were a safe distance away, that the slingshots would do nothing more than get a funny reaction and that the barriers were sufficient to keep them from harm.  Only tragedy would show them how wrong they were.  Small stones can release an avalanche of fury.   

     Our culture worships beauty and often attributes virtue, wisdom and safety to whatever or whoever is beautiful.  Beauty is a wonderful reflection of God’s design, but it is no guarantee that danger is not present.  Beauty can be a great camouflage to hide both evil and its dangers. Since we have a tendency to succumb to the lust of the eyes we must be on vigilant watch for the Evil One who can appear as an angel of light. 

     Sometimes, we clearly see the danger but deceive ourselves into thinking that it is contained, we are a safe distance away, and our defenses are adequate.  We then look at it, play with it, and even foolishly taunt it.  The Bible warns those of us who think we are standing safely, to take heed lest we fall.  If we know that sin is present, we should flee – not matter how enticing its appearance. That truth is the foundation of Solomon’s exhortations to stay away from promiscuous beauty.

     Beauty can also be both virtuous and dangerous at the same time, it all depends upon context.  Tatiana was not evil.  In her proper environment she was a breathtaking example of the creativity of God.  The problem was that she was not designed to interact with humans, nor to restrain herself when attacked.  There are people and things in our lives with beauty beneficial to our lives as long as we keep them in the proper context.  They may be objects, activities or relationships.  The beauty of each can be appreciated if we confine our interaction to what God has prescribed. 

     Our Lord is the embodiment and epitome of Beauty.  The Psalmist wrote, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple” (Psa. 27:4). And though beautiful, He is also a consuming fire for Whom we should hold reverence and fear.  Solomon proclaimed that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning and wisdom.”

     When we relate to Christ in the proper context (our Lord, Master and Savior) we can enjoy His beauty, but when we relegate Him to some distant corner of our lives, His hand of judgment can be very dangerous.  When we are in sin, we should not feel safe in His presence.  When we intentionally disobey His guidelines, we are taking up slingshots and firing stones at Him – no barrier will keep us safe from the righteous judgment of God.  This is not because He is not good, nor that He hates us, but because He knows the only safe place for us to dwell is under the shadow of His wings – where no sin abides.  This is why Paul wrote “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men.”  (2 Cor. 5:10)

Heb. 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.