Scripture

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

~Ephesians 2:10, NLT

Quote

There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our existence over which Christ does not cry “Mine!”

~Abraham Kuyper

Do your feel like a masterpiece, a work of art? I don’t! I understand that we cannot put more emphasis on our sin than we do His amazing grace but I just can’t see jack as a work of art no matter how I look at it. A man was touring an art museum when the guide stopped and asked this question: “What comes to your mind when I ask you to imagine a work of art yet to be started?” The man said, “A blank canvas, I guess.” The guide said, “But there is another way to look at it. The art already exist, the job of the artist is to reveal it.” Wow, that puts it in a new light. I have never thought about it this way.

Here is my take. I do not feel like a work of art. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Jack, you are a work of art.” I’ve been told that I was a jack of all trades and master of none. I’ve also been told that I can do a little bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing but I have never been told that I was a masterpiece. I feel marred, messed up and the burden of my sin grows daily. So why is this? It is because the fall messed us up. Adam and Eve were a work of art. I am aggravated at Eve but she was a work of art. The fall messed us up. I feel marred because I am marred. Sin has fouled me up. But this is not God’s intention or design. God is restoring me.  Potentially, by the atoning work of His son, he has made me perfect. In time, He is still working on me but do I believe He can pull it off? I am going to tell you, I believe He can.

I heard a story years ago about a brawl in a tavern and after the fracas, the wall of the tavern was badly stained. The owner was very upset but a patron who was an artist brought his tools of trade and started drawing on the wall. He took the stain and transformed it into a work of art that amazed all who saw it. When people came into the tavern, they were drawn mysteriously to this work of art and none of them ever noticed the stain. The owner of the tavern would have to tell them the story before they could believe that this work of art began as a huge stain. There is hope because Jesus is the Artist.

Extra

I do want to be like the ancient Israelites who complained about everything and were thankful for nothing. I am thankful for a good weekend and Sabbath. We had a good crowd yesterday for worship and a great crowd last night for the Fish Fry. I think this makes number six. Some of the members told me that they had never had a fish fry until the one we did six years ago but it has become a Palm Sunday tradition. I want to thank all the men who helped me and Pat especially for coordinating it. I also want to thank Belinda and the girls for getting everything to the pavilion. I had a good time.

Overcast this morning and cool but I can live with that. I hope you have a good Monday and thanks for reading the blog.