Changi Chapel

The world has a gospel and preaches it all the time: be sexy, successful, or smart and you will be saved.

What you will be saved to are the heavens of others’ esteem, desire and envy — and the various perks that usually come with it.

What you will be saved from are the hells of others’ rejection and indifference — and the various undesirable extras that usually go with them.

The more you have of sexiness, success, or smarts — and, even better, of all three — the more assurance of salvation you have.

According to this gospel you are justified by others’ approval. You are sanctified by self-improvement.

It’s a compelling gospel. But it’s no gospel. It makes big promises that prove empty. The world’s approval today usually turns to rejection or indifference tomorrow.

But the Gospel of Jesus runs contrary to the gospel of this world. Think about this amazing contrast!

When Jesus came to earth, he had “no beauty that we should desire him”- no sexiness (as in Isaiah 53:2).

He had no academic degrees – not smart (John 7:15).

His family was poor – not rich (Leviticus 12:7–8; Luke 2:24 tell us) and he came from an obscure town in an undistinguished region – not of the aristocracy (as in John 7:52).

You don’t need to be sexy, successful, or smart.

Just be yourself and find rest for your soul in the Father’s approval.

It’s the only approval you really need.

Do you want to be sexy, successful and smart – or like Jesus be unassuming yet most effective, fulfilled and successful?

Jon Bloom
Desiring God Ministries

© Jon Bloom. Adapted and excerpted from his recent writings.

Your comments, thoughts or suggestions are welcome. The body text is by the author, the header and the words in italics are mine – John B. Samuel