|
Christian Art - The Gospel
[by Ricky Su, 22/01/2005]
The Gospel
I had a pretty busy and stressful year last year from work. In order to maintain my sanity, I recommended myself that I should do something about it. I tried writing creative stories for a month or two but it frustrated me more than it helped me. So I picked up painting.
So I found a sketch book lying around and started putting pencil on paper. I wanted to paint something that is simple but provokes people to think. I wanted to paint something that I can hang in my office, to brighten up my office, to allow people to enjoy the paintings and to start conversations about God.
I really wanted to paint something for the Lord. After an hour, I had a basic idea of what I wanted to paint. I went to the discount stores and bought myself an expensive set of pain brushes valued at four dollars and four canvases valued at four dollars each. Next stop…. bought two different colours of paint: white and Burgundy.
After a week, the art is complete. I named it “The Gospel”.
These four paints give a brief summary of the Gospel.
Painting 1: The beginning
In Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is represented by the letter Alpha in Greek on the background. And in the beginning, the Trinity (represented by the triangle) existed in harmony (represented by the circle). Everything was prefect. God created the world in six days and rested on the seven day.
Painting 2: Jesus
In Genesis 1: 27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” But man and woman decided that they should be in control of their own lives rather than God. And this is Sin. So, we are no longer in relationship with our creator, God. In Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Therefore, we are all doomed.
But God loves us so much and it is because of Jesus that we are saved from our death. Jesus is God’s only son. The word on the background is Jesus in Greek. Jesus is the fisher of men. Jesus lived a perfect life on earth but he took the punishment for our sins. Isaiah 52:14 showed that Jesus suffered for us as sinners, “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man”. Jesus was whipped, beaten, nailed and died on the Cross.
But after three days, God raised him from his death and he was exalted to the right hand of God. Therefore, to be in a relationship with God, we need to believe in Jesus and what he has done for us on the cross, to be baptised into a relationship with God. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.
Painting 3: Faith and Grace
It is truly based on God’s grace that we can be in relationship with God. There is nothing that we can so to save ourselves except for believing in what Jesus has done for us. Romans 3: 23-25, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”
We do not deserve this salvation but God is willing to give it to us, through our faith in Jesus Christ Our Lord. The gift of life is for us to take. Repent from our old ways.
The square symbolises my faith in Christ, and that it reminds me that we need to stand firm in Christ. Pistis is the Greek work for “faith”.
Painting 4: The Judgement
In the end (represented by the letter omega) Jesus will return to judge us as individuals in this world. This time Jesus comes as the triumphant king. When will this happen? No one knows. Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
The single straight line in the middle is a line that defines clearly which side you are on. It is a simple line but a tough decision to make. You have come to a place where you need to decide either you are with God or you are against God by living your own ways.
Jesus will judge all of mankind. Matthew 25:32, “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
So the challenge for people who have not yet know God, are you with God or do you reject God’s gift and continue to live life in your own ways.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3: 36.
Conclusion
If you have been challenged by this article and wish to find out more about the gift of God, please talk or email to any of the leaders of 1824 or myself.
God Bless,
Ricky Su
|
