Recently, I got a hold of a "Collector's Set" of some black-and-white Bible Story Illustrations by a Master Artist. A part of me wanted to give it as a gift to an artist friend who I knew thought highly of this Master Artist. But...
She would know no more than the item's artistic worth, I realized. She wouldn't be able to see the Bible characters and think:
JOSEPH had his brothers turn on him and send him off to foreign soil, yet God used it to save their lives in the end.
Rahab (mother of BOAZ, husband of Moabitess Ruth), was a prostitute, yet God chose her to become part of the Messianic line! How many children today, born into broken families with drunken fathers who abuse addict mothers or have to live in hiding from bill collectors and do not know a drop of sanity or stability growing up could see these illustrations and think there would be a ray of hope for them too?
SAMSON was a playboy by no means godly, exemplary, or disciplined, yet he wanted, deep down, to live for God, and God knew that. JONAH was an insubordinate, bitter servant, yet God used them because HE LOVES and is Merciful. Can any child of God, in viewing these reprints, think himself too sinful for God to use for His Purposes? After seeing these, the question wasn't who we are, but WHAT GOD IS.
The God Who was able to bring a little rhinestone to me (yesterday's post) could bring this "Collector's" set to my artist friend if He really wanted her to get it.
He'd brought it before my eyes. He wanted me to get it, don't you think? So I cut off some of the top and bottom of the pictures and made my own wallpaper. Do you recognize the two pics from the Gospels?
