Artistry of the Master

I examined the artist’s drawing closely—studying the different techniques used.

One intricate detail intrigued my imagination.

I was held captive in wonder. How was such artistry created?

It looked as if she delicately filled in an area with pencil and then used an eraser to “draw” the desired object—as though the final feature was created by getting rid of unwanted marks.

It was the eraser that created the curio.

It’s what was taken away that perfected the masterpiece.

I’ve sure added an awful lot of unwanted marks to this created being!

But none the Lord is not able to remove.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

(Ps 103:12)

Thankfully, not all the marks I’ve etched across His creation are unremovable by the Master. Some may require more time and technique than others (especially when the subject is unwilling and uncooperative!), but He persists and prevails.

“He who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(Php 1:6b)

The Lord transforms lives, indeed. We have as our assurance to this fact the dramatic transformation of the apostles. He triumphed over the fear of those eleven men cowering behind locked doors and turned them into bold witnesses, perpetuating the gospel. He removed the guilt and shame of Peter’s rejection. He erased any and all condemnation from the sins Paul committed against the Lord and His people. He may not have removed Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” but there was noble purpose in that.

In amazing ways, He transforms still.

The grace of God forgives our sins and the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, blots out every nasty stain. Moreover, the Master continues to work in removing other unwanted marks—continually recreating a masterpiece-in-process.

He removes those ugly bad habits I’ve formed, replaces those scribbled faulty beliefs with truth, and scrapes off the residue I’ve built up from the world.

His tools are many. His skill is limitless. His techniques, varied. His grace, sufficient—and this masterpiece-in-the-making is struck with the wonder of His mercy and lovingkindness.

#forgiveness #transformation #changedlife #newcreation #masterpiece