Art Imitating Life

I had a dream I was back in art school. I can’t remember much about the dream but when I woke up it reminded me of some of the last words my stepfather spoke before leaving this life and stepping into heaven. The words were, “To receive, to become part of the process, to artfully leave.”

In Jesus Christ there is life for He is life.

John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.”

We are God’s craftsmanship. We are continually being molded, shaped and refined as we look to Christ Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We as Christians are to imitate Jesus.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”

We are to imitate Jesus but that is impossible if first God has not transformed us by his Holy Spirit and second if we are depending on the physicality and mentality of ourselves. If we are focused on our own perceptions or our physical ability we cannot imitate Jesus.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

Ephesians 4:23 says “Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness- righteous, holy and true.”

Being able to imitate Jesus not only has to do with our transformation of the Holy Spirit, which is essential and required BUT a focus and surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ.

In his glorious authority Jesus Christ molds us into the person/ vessel we were meant to be. He knows our make up. He knows our soul’s periodic table. He knows the elements, which we are made from. He knows us better then we know ourselves. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. He made our unique recipe that is uniquely us- knowing exactly how to use that recipe to honor and glorify Him.

But in like all secret and special recipes it needs it’s creator to prepare it. Only then can it be exquisite. Then when the Master Chef serves it, everyone who tastes it and looks back on the dish will appreciate and give honor and praise to the Master Chef that has caringly prepared it. We are a spiritual dish to serve others by God and that dish cannot claim credit -for we were made and transformed by God. We are not own creator.

So how does this moving and breathing recipe not become self-absorbed? How does it not think just on of the earthly things of this life that are here today and gone tomorrow?

Remember we are only a recipe -and it is only satisfying when prepared by God. Like a dish seasoned and prepared with the finest wine- the Expert Chef cuts and trims and separates the good stuff from the bad stuff but the amateur who does not know what he/she is doing cooks it all together and the dish is ruined and has to be tossed out. Expert Chef God is but we are not.

And as a beautiful work of art receives accolades- it only does so because of its creator. And so it is with us as we allow the Master’s hands to continue His good work in us – it brings Him and his Son glory and we get to experience some of that glory for ourselves even though we don’t claim any credit for it whatsoever.