Can you hear Him at work in His studio? Do you see Him bending over and gently removing the debris stuck on the formless clay?
Everyday the Master Artist is hammering away, chiseling, sculpting and forming the lump of mere clay, until His own image is unearthed and shaped in this earthy clay-man who was hand picked and chosen by the Master Artist.
Although at the time of being selected, the lump of clay-man had rough edges, harsh cuts, was marred, battered and unappealing to the eyes – still, the Master Artist saw in him, a true image of HIMSELF.
While the Master Artist works away, many passersby and art critics, scoff and judge His workmanship.
“This man? THIS piece of clay? Pfft!! He’s certainly not chosen.” “He’s not polished, is far too rough, harsh and imperfect.”
“I, have far more years of gallery exhibit experience than he does.”
“I am also highly educated in art. I understand composition, depth and textures.”
“It’s clear to everyone that I am the one chosen to be in the grand exhibit!”
“I have even memorized the gallery’s map and my knowledge of the various showcases, far exceeds this lump of clay’s obvious inexperience.”
They continue to hurl insults and slander, not only at the art but aim their judgements directly at the Master Artist Himself.
They miss out on seeing the day to day transFORMation.
They miss out on the deep bond of unconditional love – the primary tool – which the Master Artist works with as He chisels away.
They miss out on the flowing tears moistening this “sculpture-creation” that is slowly emerging and reflecting His own glorious Face!
They miss out on the nearness of the Master Artist’s very own Presence.
They miss out on the sound of His voice, as He hums His favorite song over the clay-man, while continuing to chisel away.
(Silence…Shhhh…)
Can you hear Him at work in His studio?
Can you see Him, through the glass, darkly?
1 Corinthians 13: 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s masterpiece, His workmanship. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them…so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (NLT & NAS)
“Come on Master Artist, just cut to the chase and move a little faster would ya? I have been on this shelf drying (and dying!) for a long time. Can’t you just hurry and put me on display? I know I’ll make You proud! Really, I will!”
“Ahhhh dear one,” He says, “The purpose is not for you to be put on display. The purpose is for My glory to be on full display through you. The purpose is for my strength to be seen through your weakness, for my righteousness to be evident in your sins, for my healing to be experienced in your scars, for my joy to be encountered in your sorrows, for My peace to be sensed in the chaos of life. That’s when I receive all the glory and praise for the beauty that will come out of the ruins.”
I wrote the above short story in an email to my husband, during a time of great uncertainty, questions and having suffered painful losses. The words just flowed out of me and as I pondered the beautiful picture of Jesus the Master Artist, molding, chiseling and forming me into His image, even though what appeared to many and myself like a colossal mess and ruins, He showed me glimpses of His loving Hands working joyfully and patiently in my “heART.”
In the middle of the questions and pain, I began to accept and settle into the Truth, that I was His prized possession, His very own Masterpiece and His highly valuable work of art. There was no way that He would neglect, abandon or forget me. I was in His capable hands.
His calling, purpose and promises over our lives are being fulfilled even when we don’t see what He’s up to. His Word will continue to be fulfilled. They may not come about in the way that we want it to, or in the geographical places we had imagined, or in the time frame we suggest for Him to keep, but in His sovereign wisdom and great faithfulness, He will perform His Word!
Everyday the Master Artist is hammering away, chiseling, sculpting and forming the lump of mere clay, until His own image is unearthed and shaped in this earthly man who was hand picked and chosen by the Master Artist. This earth-man isn’t just a disconnected piece of clay. You see beloved heart, the Master Artist calls the clay, His very own exquisitely hand carved creation. He breathes life into him, looks at him with utmost pleasure and approval and goes above and beyond all expectation in even welcoming him home as His chosen son.
You are His prize possession, the apple of His eye and His fine art and masterpiece. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, or how delayed the fulfillment of His promises may seem, we can be confident that what the Master Artist has started, He will complete it!
Philippians 1:6 There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Deuteronomy 32:10 “He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.
Isaiah 11:3 He won’t judge by appearances, won’t decide on the basis of hearsay. He’ll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth’s poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he’ll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.
Psalm 40:2
“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.”
Job 33:6
“Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay.”
Isaiah 64:8
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your Hand.”
Lamentations 4:2
“The precious sons of Zion, weighed against fine gold, How they are regarded as earthen jars, The work of a potter’s hands!”
1 John 3:1
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”
