gods_masterpiece

God’s Masterpiece, by Randall D. Kittle

“Ever since the creation of the world, His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things He has made” — Romans 1:20

While I was on our recent trip to Alaska, I found the beauty of God’s creation completely unfathomable. At one moment, an endless ocean stretches out before you. The next day mountain ranges surround you as far as the eye can see. You come to know that some of these mountains are so tall visitors rarely ever see their peaks, for they create their own weather … different from the region around them. You stop to take in the startling beauty of an emerald green lake before boarding a train that passes by a vast expanse so dry and barren its rugged beauty and haunting serenity is hard to express. Walking on a glacier, you see carved into it by a glacier waterfall gradient shades of blue more beautiful than sapphires. How amazing are the colors, textures, contrasts, and gradients God has woven together to make this world.

But the awe of God’s creation goes far beyond this earth to the wondrous creatures with which He has filled it. A frisky sea otter playfully splashes as you sail by before an immense whale surfaces near your ship, making your ship seem so much smaller … and you, so much more vulnerable. As he soars overhead, the piercing eyes of an eagle search the ocean for his next meal. Later, you observe the power of a grizzly bear as he lumbers across the path — long claws digging in with every step. Up ahead, a majestic caribou stands tall and proud on the ridge of a mountain looking like a scene from a Disney movie.

God is an artist, and His creation is unspeakably magnificent. But the immense whales, powerful grizzly bears, and majestic caribou are not His greatest work! Neither do the mountain peaks, ocean depths, barren wastelands, or glistening glacier fully declare His glory. God’s greatest work of art is you and me! Ephesians 2:10 declares of us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” The word “workmanship” here is “poiema” a Greek term that means “poem” or “work of art.” You are His poem. You are His work of art. You are God’s masterpiece. If you will begin to look at yourself this way, you will begin to understand your incredible value to Christ. Indeed, as C. S. Lewis put it, “We are a divine work of art.” Beloved … you are God’s masterpiece.

Timothy Keller summed up the importance of fully grasping this: “Do you know what it means that you are God’s workmanship? What is art? Art is beautiful, art is valuable, and art is an expression of the inner being of the maker, of the artist. Imagine what that means. You’re beautiful … you’re valuable … and you’re an expression of the very inner being of the Artist, the divine Artist, God Himself. You see, when Jesus gave Himself on the Cross, He didn’t say, ‘I’m going to die just so you know I love you.’ He said, ‘I’m going to die, I’m going to bleed, for your splendor. I’m going to re-create you into something beautiful. I will turn you into something splendid, magnificent. I’m the Artist; you’re the art. I’m the Painter; you’re the canvas. I’m the Sculptor; you’re the marble. You don’t look like much there in the quarry, but I can see it. Oh, I can see it!’ Jesus is an Artist! And you, beloved, are His crowning achievement, His masterpiece!”