An interesting conversation occurred the other day in the store while talking with one of the sample ladies. Somehow this lady brought up the topic of "getting a husband". This Christian woman's advice was to quit wearing a headcovering, chop off my hair, slap on some pants, and
*apply make up, then "abra-cadabra-you've got a swarm of 'would be grooms'". Mom quickly pointed out that I don't need to do those things, that the right man - the one God has me for will have the same convictions in these areas. This lady offered one of the saddest things I think I've heard in a long time. She declared that "those kind of men don't exist anymore"(see Romans 8:24 & Proverbs 13:12). It saddens me even more that if she would give this worldly advice to an acquaintance, then she would probably offer the same to her grandchildren & great-grandchildren - therefore effecting many generations. The thought troubles me that Christians would become caught up in this worldly web of lies, that you must throw out convictions God gives you in order to "get a life partner or be successful". I plead with you, that you will not listen to the world! Follow Jesus, He died for you. If He cared so much for your soul to give His life for it, then He also cares more than you do about your future life partner if marriage is God's plan for you. 1 John 2:15-17 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
If I would have to trade God's convictions for a husband, I would not take him. It could only lead to a life of misery. It would mean a life of grueling slavery for I would then have set up a man as my idol. Marrying a man because he thought I was pretty would mean that I would always be in competition with other women, after all there will always be someone out there better looking than me. It would be better to live a life of singleness knowing I was pleasing God than to lay aside His convictions and be outside of His blessed will (see Matthew 16:24-25).
So does this mean I don't need change? No, I do need change but not in the way this lady was thinking. I need: to be more self-less, more like Christ, more forward in sharing the Gospel, more meek, more gracious, a better listener, better manager of time, dye to self more, etc.... Ultimately, I need to keep my eyes on Jesus Christ and Him alone. Even if I were to change in certain convictions, it should be God changing my convictions, not man! The underlying principle is, who determines truth: man or God? If man determines truth, then anything goes. Praise the Lord that man does not determine truth, God does. "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6-7. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8.
(*As a side not, I don't have a conviction against wearing make-up. It is a personal preference issue, NOT a conviction. I don't like having my face feel like it's going to crack! :-).
