"Masterpiece"

The beauty of a masterpiece,

A created work of art,

Whatever is the medium,

In the mind and in the heart,

The idea and conception,

Of what all soon will see,

Is born inside the artist,

Before it comes to be.

God grants to them that talent,

They’ve described to me the flow,

When whatever they’re creating,

Emerges from their hand, you know.

Sometimes it’s on a canvas,

Sometimes a sculpture strong,

And some so unconventional,

But the beauty like a song,

Rises to the surface,

With color and with shade,

And there’s no doubt about it,

When a masterpiece is made.

I thought I saw a canvas,

That was blank, no color there,

And in front there was an artist,

Never seen him anywhere.

And when He touched the palette,

With the paintbrush in his grip,

The Master stood behind him,

To make sure he didn’t slip.

On his hand the hand of Jesus,

For to guide the art along,

And then create the masterpiece,

From a life that had gone wrong.

And there emerged the beauty,

And the wonder and the love,

Of a painting or a sculpture,

Designed in heav’n above.

Don’t wrestle with the Artist,

When He tries to guide the brush,

Not too slow or in a hurry,

You can ruin it in a rush.

Just let the great flow happen,

With the Spirit in the lead,

And He will make it beautiful,

And fill your every need.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10, NAS)

Have you ever thought of yourself as God’s masterpiece? In Paul’s discussion of the work of grace he makes clear that we do nothing to earn our salvation. It is freely given to us. But in the same breath he speaks of the good works that will result from receiving this grace. God’s grace is that which transforms our lives into something beautiful. Then God can point to us and say this is the beauty for which your heart is longing. The masterpiece becomes God’s advertisement. Cooperate with the Artist.

Lord, make our lives a work of art, in Jesus’name.

Art by Bruce Greene, used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.