ARTIST'S TOUCH By Marion Smith

Genesis 1:26 And God said "Let us make humankind in our image

In April,1999, my daughters and I had the marvelous opportunity to fly to Paris for one week. We took a day trip to Montmarte, France where we visited the Basilica du Sacre Cour and then purchased some art work.

The artists were side by side in the town square, stroking their canvases with great intent and also selling their finished paintings. I was intrigued as I watched one artist working at his easel. He would take a dab of this color, then that color, and apply them to the canvas. He would blend moist paints on the canvas and then paint harsh looking lines here and there. Next he would stroke some soft, but long strokes, sweeping them across the picture with a great flair. He would stand back, viewing the canvas from his own perspective. He would see what was needed for his creation. If he saw something unappealing he would just paint right over it with another color-
obliterating it completely!

God is our master artist. We are the canvas. He brings light and beautiful color into our existence, with strokes of His love. He is the one creating a masterpiece of art in our lives. He is making us into the image of his beautiful and sinless son, and I am thankful. He touches us with dabs of color-allowing us to enjoy each one and then blending them into happy memories. We have joyful experiences, His abiding love, and His open invitation to a relationship with Him. He also draws straight lines for us to follow – His way - the way of truth and light. He blends our talents with those of other believers to work together as the “Body of Christ.”

Shadows may appear on our lives, just as they do on the artists’ canvas. They can vary from small sadness’ to times of overwhelming grief or fear. God’s master hand is upon us at these times also.

The most wonderful thing God does is to “paint over” or whitewash all our sins. They become completely obliterated. The wrongs we’ve done and other grievances we have committed against God - He is ready, willing and able to wash all of them out of His mighty sight when we ask Jesus to forgive our sins. Isn’t that the most wonderful news?

I am so thankful I am the canvas and God is the artist in my life. I know He will keep working on “this piece of art” until the day I am called home to be with Him eternally. Only then will my painting be perfected- better than a Monet or Van Gough - ready to be framed and presented to the king of kings!