I spent a few hours of my precious life last week scouring for cool digital art to sport on my new mac, as you can see pictured above. As I was browsing the numerous amazing/ beautiful/ bizarre artwork I thought about how cool it would be able to design art like this on my computer. I thought about the creative aspect of it and what I could possibly do with this artwork. Then I thought about how much time and the many many many many hours it would take to learn the skills necessary. I quickly got discouraged at the thought of the cost of mastering digital art and had to be honest with myself that I would not be happy sitting at a computer for hours doing this. For one this is not a desire in my heart. A lot of times we do things for the sake of doing them and waste our time and God’s time.
Anyway, so I went to church that night and as I was sitting worshipping the Lord, the Spirit started to reveal some stuff to me. The Lord revealed to me that when we be who He created us to be, we are creating masterpieces in Heaven. When we speak the truth or the gospel, we are creating so much beauty in heaven. Luke 15:7 says that heaven literally rejoices over one sinner who repents compared to 99 righteous people.
God is more interested in us sowing seed in His kingdom, not this world. Not perishable things. I don’t want to be critical towards the creative arts. I believe God can use anything. But nothing in this world can ever compare to the beauty in heaven, period. People who don’t know Jesus only know this world and how to produce for it. I challenge you as I have been challenged, are you producing for the Kingdom, or this world? What are you consumed with? What are your desires? Do you need to repent like me?
God wants us to be consumed with Him and Him alone. There can be no more room for divided hearts and wishy washyness.
Personally, I’ve spent hours upon hours of my life producing my webpage, newsletters, business cards, and other stuff in preparation for this trip. But I have to be real honest and critical of myself to if it really matters. The early church did not have these things. They did not have to do lists or GTD. But they had the power of God through the Holy Spirit just like we do now. They did not need flashy marketing materials or presentations. The power of God manifested was quite sufficient. We have the same power today, God has not changed, but we have all let this culture affect the truth in us.
We are all trained here to judge and criticize by appearances, while God looks at the heart. We’re trained how to be logical and intellectual, when God wants us to depend on Him for truth John 16:13.
I really want to encourage you all to be honest with yourself and God. More importantly, I REALLY REALLY encourage you to pray. Not just bedside or short prayers, but get lost in communicating with your creator who loves you soo soo much. Go out in the woods at night or somewhere you can speak out loud and freely to God. This is such a great blessing and I guarantee you will encounter God. How much of God do you want? It’s up to you. DO IT!
One Comment
This is a good reminder, Jer. But I think even your communication is art. And in that way, we’re all living artists. Even the gospel is artistic. I think it’s holistic. And I think the method of communication of the gospel (and the language in which it’s communicated) is even art. I heard a teaching once by Landa Cope (of YWAM) that I thought was really appropriate that we can’t separate Christ from culture. Sure sometimes, Christ is against a cultural practice, but He’s *within it* and *within* all art in some fashion when it is beautiful and good because “every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights” (James)1:17. I think the question is, is art *your gift* to give or are you feeling repentant because God’s telling you it’s *not* your gift to give. I think both God and man know when someone has a gift for it and the stuff above is great, gifted works, I think. And in that way, it’s a good and perfect gift, coming from God. Everything beautiful is God’s beauty, I believe.
Including your calling to other things than art… like evangelism and clear, challenging writing and clear, committed and communication of Truth. It’s your gift! Go with that gift!