A One Of A Kind Masterpiece!
Canvas painting class promised an easy-to-follow, step-by-step art experience for beginners to advanced. As a pre-beginner I entered the art studio full of trepidation and no previous painting experience. The instructor must have sensed my art apprehension as she handed me an apron and blank canvas and showed me to the brushes, chalk and paints. “I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step,” she said. “You’ll do great!”
From my front row seat I had a perfect view of the instructor’s completed piece of art that served as an example for students to follow. The canvas sunflower sign resting on an easel was flawless. “The word WELCOME” was written in big, bold letters so perfectly uniform, it was as if they had been typed, not written by hand. The sunflower’s petals were all exactly the same shape and size, as if they had been stenciled, not formed freehand. Even the buzzing bee was perfectly proportioned to the big yellow flower. The more I studied the work of art before me the more I wondered how I could possibly paint a picture anything like the instructor’s. How could I, a pre-beginner with little art ability, even begin to replicate such a beautiful image?
Over the next two hours, with the instructor providing step-by-step guidance, I was shown how to paint a masterpiece like a true “artist.” She taught the class how to apply paint strokes, which brushes to use and when. She demonstrated how much paint to use and when to apply each coat. When it came to making perfectly straight lines mine weren’t perfect or absolutely straight but the instructor reassured me that the imperfections gave my piece character and made the painting unique.
By the end of class each student had completed a unique masterpiece based on the instructor’s example. A few canvases were decorated with glitter and one even featured a pumpkin instead of a sunflower. Although all of the canvases started out the same white way and followed the same instructor’s direction, once finished, the paintings were all distinct and different. Every blank canvas was uniquely transformed into a matchless, one-of-a-kind, beautiful work of art.
I left canvas painting class with more than a sunflower sign. I left with a vivid picture of what God can do with the blank canvas of our lives when we surrender to His instruction and follow Him step-by-step to be transformed into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus.
When we come to Christ and receive His free gift of new life we are like pre-beginners stepping into an art studio. We do not know how to use the tools and we do not have any previous painting experience. Yet, God, our instructor, greets us warmly and welcomes each one of us with a blank, white canvas and a brand new start.
Under His instruction, God offers us a seat with an unobstructed view of His Son, our Savior and perfect example. He places before us all the tools we need to create a masterpiece. The brush of His love. The paint of His grace. The chalk of His righteousness.
While we look upon Jesus we wonder how we will ever create anything even remotely as beautiful as the perfect Lamb of God but God promises that if we simply follow His step-by-step instructions our lives will become a masterpiece. He will guide our hands and inform our strokes according to His Holy Spirit and truth. We can rest assured that when we paint God’s way, our canvas will be transformed into a gloriously pleasing picture in the image of His precious Son’s glory.
Following God and living by His instruction does not mean that we will all turn out with the same image on our canvas. In the end, no two lives will look the same, just like no two canvases in painting class looked the same. Each one will be a matchless, one-of-kind, beautiful work of art.
You need not have any previous painting experience to have your life turn out beautifully. God welcomes us all, from beginners to advanced. Simply come to His class, submit to His instruction and ask Him to direct your brush and guide your paint so that your life can be a beautiful canvas in the image of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Canvas painting class promised an easy-to-follow, step-by-step art experience for beginners to advanced. As a pre-beginner I entered the art studio full of trepidation and no previous painting experience. The instructor must have sensed my art apprehension as she handed me an apron and blank canvas and showed me to the brushes, chalk and paints. “I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step,” she said. “You’ll do great!”
From my front row seat I had a perfect view of the instructor’s completed piece of art that served as an example for students to follow. The canvas sunflower sign resting on an easel was flawless. “The word WELCOME” was written in big, bold letter so perfectly uniform it was as if they had been typed, not written by hand. The sunflower’s petals were all exactly the same shape and size, as if they had been stenciled, not formed freehand. Even the buzzing bee was perfectly proportioned to the big yellow flower. The more I studied the work of art before me the more I wondered how I could possibly paint a picture anything like the instructor’s. How could I, a pre-beginner with little art ability, even begin to replicate such a beautiful image?
Over the next two hours, with the instructor providing step-by-step guidance, I was shown how to paint a masterpiece like a true “artist.” She taught the class how to apply paint strokes, which brushes to use and when. She demonstrated how much paint to use and when to apply each coat. When it came to making perfectly straight lines mine weren’t perfect or absolutely straight but the instructor reassured me that the imperfections gave my piece character and made the painting unique.
By the end of class each student had completed a unique masterpiece based on the instructor’s example. A few canvases were decorated with glitter and one even featured a pumpkin instead of a sunflower. Although all of the canvases started out the same white way and followed the same instructor’s direction, once finished, the paintings were all distinct and different. Every blank canvas was uniquely transformed into a matchless, one-of-a-kind, beautiful work of art.
I left canvas painting class with more than a sunflower sign. I left with a vivid picture of what God can do with the blank canvas of our lives when we surrender to His instruction and follow Him step-by-step to be transformed into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus.
When we come to Christ and receive His free gift of new life we are like pre-beginners stepping into an art studio. We do not know how to use the tools and we do not have any previous painting experience. Yet, God, our instructor, greets us warmly and welcomes each one of us with a blank, white canvas and a brand new start.
Under His instruction, God offers us a seat with an unobstructed view of His Son, our Savior and perfect example. He places before all the tools we need to create a masterpiece. The brush of His love. The paint of His grace. The chalk of His righteousness.
While we look upon Jesus, we wonder how we will ever create anything even remotely as beautiful as the perfect Lamb of God. But God promises that if we simply follow His step-by-step instructions, our lives will become a masterpiece. He will guide our hands and inform our strokes according to His Holy Spirit and truth. We can rest assured that when we paint God’s way our canvas will be transformed into a gloriously pleasing picture in the image of His precious Son’s glory.
Following God and living by His instruction does not mean that we will all turn out with the same image on our canvas. In the end, no two lives will look the same, just like no two canvases in painting class looked the same. Each one will be a matchless, one-of-kind, beautiful work of art.
You need not have any previous painting experience to have your life turn out beautifully. God welcomes us all, from beginners to advanced. Simply come to His class, submit to His instruction and ask Him to direct your brush and guide your paint so that your life can be a beautiful canvas in the image of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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