The artistry of God

"We are the clay, and thou are Potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8b

Last night I was laying in bed, and I got to thinking about God. I do this a lot of nights, but I had some cool imagery last night.

Close your eyes and think about the world. Think of the different people and the different animals. The variety of plants. The technologies of the world, and the primitiveness of places. When you're finished (take your time), open your eyes.

Do you realize who made that? Who made the stars, the moons, the planets, the heavens? The earth and all of its wonders? God. Our God. The Great Artist.
Think of the imagination of great artists such as Picasso, Da Vinci, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Warhol....sorry, I don't know many artists. Think of the works of art made. Mona Lisa, statue of David, The Last Supper, Sistine Chapel ceilings, Starry Night, American Gothic...on and on. God made the people who made those. He molded those people by hand.

God created every person on this earth, every person who has ever walked the earth, by hand. He thought of us: each freckle, each hair, each speck of gold in our eyes, each fingernail. Every pigment of your skin, every wrinkle and birth mark. He added stretch marks as time goes on, just as more wrinkles or hair appears. We may not like it, but He made us how He thought of us as beautiful. We are perfect because everything is just where He placed it.

Yet, as humans, we are all so similar. We all want to be loved. That is our basic instinct. And how wonderful that He made that our first instinct because He can fill that? Despite the love from our families and friends, we still need Him. So many people wonder why He gave Adam and Eve free will: the opportunity to take the fruit from the forbidden tree. But if you understand that God's basic instinct is love, too (as we are made in His image), you can surely understand. God wants us to WANT to love Him, not HAVE to love Him. That's also why He chooses to not be physically seen. If God were right in your face, you would have no choice other than to love Him (as you should). But He WANTS your love but He wants it as a choice.

But how wonderful to be so wonderfully and beautifully made? God made humans each very unique and different, but each so similar. The same things keep us going, physically and spiritually. We all need food to survive. We all need shelter. We all have the instincts to protect and defend ourselves, our children, and others who need protected and defended. Only God could construct us so similarly.

Isn't it wonderful how Jesus was an artist, too? His trade was carpentry. Carpenters, especially really good ones, are known for their fine details. Special joints, beautiful molding, glorious stains. Well, Jesus is no different. He was brought to us to show us the finer details. While the tribe of Israel and the Jews were looking to the Laws to live, many of them were looking to live strictly by that Law rather than looking to the finer details of their behaviors and lives.

In Matthew 5:21-42 Jesus says:
21 "You have heard that is was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. ...27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If you right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lsoe one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

These are the fine details of walking with the Lord. But it is also in the fine details that we find salvation.

Jesus came to save the whole world (you included), but there is a detail left to you in that deal. You must first ask Him to be the personal Lord and Savior of your life. You need to turn all of your control over to Him.
Once you do this, you need to repent of your sins. We are all sinners (me included!) and need to try to do our best not to sin continually. As we fail at this, we need to confess our sins to the Lord so He can forgive us.
These fine details of salvation are the key to the pathway to heaven. And, just think, if The Great Artist that is God made this as our temporary home; this wonderful beautiful Earth; just think of what imagination He must have put into our eternal home: heaven.

And if you want to talk more about this, please email me or leave a comment.