Don't Let a "Knock Off' Steal from the "Real Deal"

Recently my daughter visited New York City with a school group. Part of their excursion included some shopping in Chinatown. She came back describing the ‘interesting experience’ of being invited by shopkeepers to visit the backroom where a myriad of designer ‘knock offs’ were available for purchase: purses, wallets, bags, each of these sporting a very close look to the original label they were intended to imitate.
The kids were informed that though it was illegal to sell these items, there was no legal obstacle to buying them. (And so, I believe many came home with ‘knock off’ items at a fraction of the cost of the new, legitimate designer name.)
Tsk, tsk, we shake our heads at such practices, and decry the undermining of the legitimate original labels that these counterfeits steal from. (Even as we may subconsciously argue that such high prices kind of deserve it….but that’s another discussion.)

I’d suggest that on a much more serious level, Satan tries to put his ‘knock off’ counterfeits in our faces on a daily basis. And with varied and far reaching effect.
For some, the knock offs distract enough to take away attention from the real deal, and he successfully diverts God's intention.
For others, the knock offs are quickly identified and castigated, but along with this contempt goes any and all focus on the original, legitimate form, as well.
Satan is just as successful then, in this second example, as the end result has us denying God’s design for the ‘real deal’
God’s design: 0
Satan’s counterfeit: 2

One example of this, I’d suggest, is beauty.
Specifically, the design in our feminine makeup of displaying, creating & bringing to all of life this good gift of God: beauty.
I’m sure your mind quickly goes to culture’s distortion and obsession with beauty. Physical attractiveness reigns supreme. Youth is worshipped as a goddess. Aging is to be fought at all cost. Sexual appeal is heralded and promoted as a determiner of a woman’s worth. We respond biblically to this with “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Prov. 31:30
Yes, Satan’s ‘knock off’ is to be identified, put off and decried.
But….
Beauty was first God’s.
God is the creator of beauty, and He displays his endorsement of it all around us in creation. His breathtaking exhibit gives clear sanction.
Don’t give up on the God's original design of beauty because Satan has so distorted it.
As women, our feminine design has equipped us with unique capability to add color, warmth, loveliness and visual magnificence all around us.
Don’t settle for prison-cell gray when God created us to adorn our world with sunshine yellow or tangerine orange.
In our homes, display God’s creative design for beauty by adding loveliness to yours. Not as all-important, not at the expense of all else, but as appropriate, bring color and loveliness to your family!
In our marriages, display God’s creative design for splendor by providing loveliness for your husband. Are you a ‘commandant wife’ with all the attractiveness of a German frau (no offense intended); or instead do you flourish in your own uniqueness to display the exquisiteness of God’s beauty that He gave as a gift for your husband?
Look around you. Does the pristine white of the fallen snow as it crystallizes on the trees to create a winter wonderland look like God meant life to be merely functional and utilitarian?
Or did He create beauty, in all its forms, to demonstrate the wonder of Himself.
As women, he instilled in our makeup a paintbrush to display this vividly across the canvas of our influence.
Not the crass counterfeit….not the ‘knock off’.
But the original intent of our good God who Himself is infinitely beautiful.
To show his image accurately, it best will include beauty.
Display yours to the glory of God.