after i painted Split Rock i was figuring out the price for the print according to it's physical size. it was in figuring the square inches of the painting that i realized that it's dimensions multiplied together equaled 777 which is of course the number in the bible which represents God. i had already intended Split Rock to be a metaphor for Christ so when i saw the number on the calculator it kind of freaked me out. i had bought the paper, sized the image to fit the paper, painting the painting without any thought as to any special significance of the finished size. the number i think, represents Christ's involvement in my work. He quietly put His fingerprint on it.
when you're a Christian things like this happen. you may see this as mere coincidence, that would be an easy assumption to make. Christ said "be still and know that I am God". i know Christ's finger print when i see it. It doesn't make the painting the shroud of Turin or anything like that. the painting is just a painting. the rock is just a rock. when your a Christian His fingerprints will show up everywhere in your life. my experience is that Christ's involvement in my life shows up where i least expect it but need it most. that, i believe shows me that Christ is not just some little trick i play on myself. these things usually come completely out of left field and catch me completely off guard.
go to the wilderness find yourself a metaphor and be still. you will know too.
so why should i go to lengths to talk about this?
i talk about this because i want people to understand my paintings. and in order to understand my paintings people must understand what i understand. the push for me to create, is not unlike eric lidell being pushed down the track in "chariots of fire", it comes from a relationship i have with Jesus Christ.
while Split Rock was painted specifically as a metaphor for Christ, my other paintings are specifically colorado landscapes or wildlife. they are all representational of what i understand of this world. i try to present a created/broken world with a true consistent presence of hope. a world under the pressure of evil, but also possessing a way through - light, a path, alpine peaks in the distance ( which always imply to me a tangible way - difficult but real ). sometimes the metaphors are obvious and sometimes they are just a sense i try to impart in the finished work.
i see a need for Christians (myself in particular) to be transparent. i don't want to always have the happy Christian face on. singing the happy peace and joy joy of being a Christian. i want the world to see what's really going on in this Christians head. certainly there is a very tangible peace. and an indescribable joy in a repaired relationship with God. the void will be filled. It is living your life with meaning. what more meaning can you have than doing things The One Creator wants you to do. living a life being pushed.
but it's not all roses and daisies; trials and difficulties come. if your a maturing Christian expect it. most Christians soon or later experience the crushing blow or a thorn they can't get rid of. Christ promise's that no matter what happens to you, He will be there and help you through. i don't know if pain is just life or part of the maturing process. i do know that it drastically changes your point of view in life. It doesn't matter. Christ will be there. and i don't mean "be still and know" type of "be there". i mean you need something it happens. probably not powerball, but a new friend, an old friend, a job, or maybe just endurance. The One Creator is taking care of your needs. none of those kierkegaardian head games.
unfortunately, some of the things that bring me pain in my life, isn't just life, it's me goofing up. selfishness, or letting my anger hurt someone. i'm no mass murderer, but i know i hurt people sometimes. Christ knew it was coming when he signed up for the Savior gig. He knew i'd be selfish. ultimately, we know there's a debt to pay for these things. It can't be free. He gives us an out. He took care of our debt for us when He died. we admit to Him how we've wronged Him in our selfishness, ask Him to forgive us. it's done. He say's "clean slate, keep going. learn from your mistakes." It is Christ's nature to make good things happen out of brokeness.
has your selfishness been totally out of control? well if it's up to you or me there'd be no forgiveness. but it's not up to me or you. it's up to Him. He's the one to decides who to forgive. and Christ said if you ask with a sincere heart He'll do it. clean slate. i wouldn't be waiting on a better deal than that. that's as good as it gets.
that doesn't mean we won't have to suffer the consequences of our selfishness during our lives. but to the One who counts He say's that if you believe that He is God and ask Him to forgive you, he'll give you life - forever. not "i'm so happy that my life is full of life" eternal life. i'm mean "live forever" life. with Jesus there are no smoke and mirrors.
if you're like me, that seems pretty one sided. how can a change in my heart be exchanged for life eternal? look at it this way, how else is Jesus going to get you back?
ok, yeah i'm like you, basically a good person. but Jesus, he never did anything wrong ever. God is purely good and can't be pure if we're there. how can we who've messed up, share space with Him? therein lyes the problem. our mess up's have to go away in order for us to live shareing space with God. Christ, you see, is our go between. our bridge. He is both God and man. He paid the debt for us so that our relationship with God can be repaired.
it's not about joining an organization or giving money or wearing your hair a certain way. it's about you and Jesus and the wilderness.
Acts ch.10: 43 - Romans ch.5:1-9
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