Our world market has been tainted with products that are less than desirous when it comes to quality. In the rush to produce more, questionable materials and practices are being used to produce goods that are potentially harmful to its consumers. And so we have lead in toys, tainted pet products, foods laced with illicit pesticides, even lead in lipstick. Now this was a shocker to me, since I've been painting my lips for the last 20 years. Fortunately my buttered rum lipstick shade that I faithfully get from my Avon lady isn't on the forbidden list.
Pretty much all my life I've been very conscious of what passes through my lips. My mom being the health conscious authority of the Tirado family has made it her life mission to ensure that we were kept on a healthy regiment full of legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Even during my rebellious years her image would miraculously appear on my shoulder when I would pass the sugared cereal section of the grocery store, admonishing me to keep on going and not give in to temptation.
I consider my lips to be a gateway to not just my stomach but also to my inner thoughts and feelings. Countless times I have blurted out thoughts - what in the world was I thinking of letting that out! Someone asked me a few weeks ago, "Where did you come up with that?" after I inadvertently said something that should have stayed right where the thought originated - in my head. If they only knew what actually never makes it out.
The Bible says, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Pretty wise words. And true too. Whatever we fill our hearts - what we see and hear, read and watch - that's what we'll talk about. That's why it's important to surround ourselves with things that are pure, noble, good, and virtuous.
And so as much as I watch the foods that pass through my lips, as much as I don't want lipstick tainted with lead to even come close to this important part of my body - I should take even greater care to watch that which comes in contact with my other senses. Like Isaiah of old, I identify with those unclean lips. And I desperately need live coal taken from the altar of the Most High to cleanse and purge my lips and take my iniquity away. (Isaiah 6:5-7)
