“As I listen to the silence, I learn that my feelings about art and my feelings about the Creator of the Universe are inseparable.”~ Madeline L’Engle
It was the summer of 1996. I was in middle school, attending camp with my youth group in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. To say that it’s beautiful is an understatement. My time at that camp remains one of the most formative times of my faith. Those “mountain top experiences” set the stage for deep growth in my relationship with Christ. Surrounded by the majesty of creation I learned how to be still and worship.
“The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. – Nahum 1:5
I remember spending one of the morning quiet times outside under a tree, awestruck by the serenity of the lake, when a tiny ant caught my eye. Something about the smallness of the ant struck me. The mountain in its grandeur; the ant in its ordinary simplicity; both spoke volumes about the One who Created them.
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Romans 1:19-20
Meeting God as Creator, an artist, helped me understand myself and how I could live a life that brings glory to God.
What does it mean that God is an artist?
A basic but useful definition for art is a skill, craft, or craftsmanship. An artist is one skilled in a particular task or occupation. Throughout history artists are responsible for making the things that tell our story. Artists communicate what happened, how we feel about what is happening, and what we hope will happen.
God made everything from nothing and everything He made is both purposeful and beautiful. He tells us our story. (Psalm 19:1)
At the end of each day of creation, God reflected on what He had made and declared that it was “good” (Genesis 1:4). When mankind grew more corrupt, He felt grief and regret. He experiences the journey and feels alongside us (Genesis 6:6).
Though we did nothing to deserve it, He made a way for us to be restored to Him, fulfilling the ultimate hope for our future (John 3:16-17).
What does it mean to bear God’s image as an Artist?
We may not all be professionals, painting, sculpting or singing for a living, but we are made in the image of a creator so we are always making something. We make order from chaos by living intentionally and setting goals. We cultivate our homes and relationships. We balance checkbooks, make discoveries, sing in the shower, and tell each other our stories, remembering, laughing, and crying together.
Because we carry His image as artists
- We craft our lives with excellence “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
- We think and reflect on the things we see and interact with. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8
- We communicate who He is by telling our story “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
In many small ways, we are all artists. Like Adam naming the animals, we participate with God in the continuous work of creation, declaring that He is good.
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