Author: Rev. (Dr.) Timothy Tin
Since the dawn of humankind, men and women have sought physical beauty. As plastic surgery techniques advance, they can reverse aging and revert to one’s youthful days.
Due to the expensive cost of these procedures, many plastic surgical procedures are done in Mexico – making it the most popular destination for worldwide medical tourism. It is desirable to Canadian and American citizens because of its proximity.
Unfortunately, Mexico’s drug cartel has become so potent that Mexico has turned into a fertile ground for illegal arms trade and drug trafficking. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, drug trafficking generates a profit of 13.6 billion to 48.4 billion, and it’s ever-increasing, with forty million drug users in Mexico and U.S. combined. During Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s administration from Dec 2006 to Nov 2012, at least 60 thousand people died due to drug trafficking. In 2013 the death toll rose to 120 thousand, not including nearly 30 thousand perished. Mexico might be a haven for medical tourism, but it is a raging hell for the drug cartel and its victims.
Though the persistent drug cartel has increased the risks of tourists that travel to Mexico, there were still 30 million Americans that visited in November 2022, according to News Nation. Jennifer Coffindaffer, an FBI agent, said in 2021, there were 625 American citizens or permanent residents kidnapped, and the US Department of State had issued a travel advisory because there were higher risks of kidnapping in some areas in Mexico. In March of 2023, four Americans ignored this travel warning and crossed the border from Texas for the liposuction procedure. They were kidnapped en route, and two of them died! It angered the American public and even led U.S. Attorney General William Pelham Barr to plead with President Biden to prepare its U.S. troops stationed in Mexico to be ready for battle against the drug cartel.
On the one hand, we ought to be sympathetic to the victims and support the survivors of this tragedy. On the other hand, this news warns us not to chase after vanity and heed wise advice to avoid being kidnapped. Had they heed the warning of the U.S. State Department, they would not have fallen into the wrong hands and died.
However, the eagerness for physical beauty is a human instinct. So why would such a tragedy result from this desire? Satan always lurks around, looking for people to fall into sin. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Also, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10) The Bible teaches us to heed God’s warning, and don’t lose our souls over the temporary pleasures and riches of the present world because “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) Jesus also said, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Only those who seek inner beauty, truth, and the wisdom and fulfillment of the Spirit, will lead us away from evil and into a world of light. Therefore God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus, to warn everyone not to be deceived and bound by Satan. God manifested truth, love, and mercy as Jesus descended to earth and died for our sins. Jesus’ death on the cross revealed that a world under Satan’s control is utterly evil. When Jesus was resurrected on the third day, God revealed His righteousness and omnipotence to the world. Indeed death and Satan have no hold on us, and Jesus’ sacrificial love has defeated the sting of death and hell.
Dear friends, are you willing to accept this soul-saving Savior called Jesus Christ?
Author: Rev. (Dr.) Timothy Tin is the lead pastor of the Christian Alliance Bible Church in L.A.. Rev. Tin serves on the Board of Director in the International Fellowship of Christian Short Term Missions and Presence Quotient. Rev. Tin is currently teaching in USA Christian Mission Seminary. He holds practitioner’s licenses in acupuncture in Southern CA and NACCAOM in the US. Rev. Tin received his Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Alhambra Medical University, Master of Longevity Martial arts and Doctoral degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the University of East-West Medicine. Rev. Tin is a frequent speaker in many churches and nonprofit organizations.