What AI Filters Taught Me About God’s Love

Have you ever experimented with using filters for your photos?

While I have used Snapchat lenses before to put a little makeup or hide some imperfections, it was only recently that I tried using AI to see how I would look like given various clothes, poses and scenery.

For the record, here are my unfiltered photos:

Now here are the AI photos I’m talking about:

As you can see, my features have been enhanced. Even my hair was changed and I could see myself in various settings without putting on real makeup, changing my clothes or going out.

I admit that I had fun trying on various outfits without needing to be a model. All I had to do was use my imagination and visualize how I would have looked like had I chosen another path in life.

Other people say that we should be cautious of using these filters.

The reason is that they can cause disappointment and feelings of insecurity for being unable to look as perfect and as dazzling when it comes to real life. And that may be true.

But there is one other realization that I think also deserves some merit. Before that, let me ask you this question:

“Why do you think many people feel good when they look at images rendered through AI filters?”

The answer is that they probably show us how beautiful we can be.

When we see those photos, a truth resonates deep within us. It reminds us of our identity as human beings created in God’s image and likeness. Isn’t it true that God when he made the whole world, has proclaimed that it is good? After he made human beings, Scriptures say that God found it to be “very good”.

We should all be beautiful. But sin crept into the world and ruined the beauty that God has made.

Somewhere deep within, however, we know. We crave for something better. We desire to be good and beautiful, even perfect… and this, not just physically, but also spiritually.

If you have ever wondered how God looks at you, perhaps you can remember these filters.

For many years, I had been afraid of God’s gaze because he might find out about my sins, my darkness… that ugly monster that can hurt other people anytime.

But through many seasons of growth, I have learned that we should not think that way. Let us remember that while God sees our weaknesses and sins, he also sees the beautiful person that he has made.

It’s as though God has a special filter when he looks at each one of us, enabling him to see us in our best possible light!

Even if you feel like the worst sinner now, he already sees your holiness as a saint. Even if you are sick and hurting, he already sees your healing and your glorified life.

God uses the best possible filter when he looks at us because God sees us through the eyes of love!

“And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.” - Genesis 1:30-31 (NABRE)

To Look Using God’s Own Eyes

I pray I could learn
to look at people,
the way God sees each one of us –
to be able to forego the little mistakes,
maybe even the big ones
to be able to see weaknesses
turned into strength
to know something’s hurting
and yet know that the hurt
would be healed in time…

To look beyond judgment
to see with an understanding heart
to see what’s beautiful
to appreciate what’s good
to not measure anybody’s destiny
with their present plight…
but to see real hope for everyone
the way God sees us.

To know that orphans
have their Father
To know that those imprisoned
have One who will set them free
To see how the poor
will one day bask in God’s abundance
To see the brokenhearted
in days when God Himself
will cradle them upon His lap.

To be able to see with God’s own eyes
is to see with gladness,
with hope,
and with a love so strong
it could never ever fail!

“My lover speaks and says to me,
‘Arise, my friend, my beautiful one,
and come!’”
-Song of Solomon 2:10 (NABRE)

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