MASTERPIECE

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One of my favorite painters is Vincent van Gogh, one the most admired impressionists of the 20th century.

"Starry Night," probably his most popular, has been reproduced and copied countless times by art students and artist-wanna-be's. The original is reportedly priced at more than $100 million.

I'm one of those wanna-be's—pretend artists actually, attempting to catch even a spark of his genius. Do I even come close? Closer maybe to being able to hold a paint brush properly; but nein—no! I'm just a great pretender.

My painting mentor, Ted Luna, was kind enough to have me know, "yes, it's good to copy the master"—so that, in the long run, I might develop a style completely my own.

Oh wow, how many canvasses, paints and brushes do I need to murder to qualify me as a "master?"

But that's what masterpieces are—copied, admired, hailed. And valued as priceless. Many of them have been stolen for the fortune to be gained for their sale.

God regards us too as His masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10—"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."

Psalm 139:14 says you and I have been fearfully and wonderfully made. We are wondrous creations, not even a Mona Lisa or Starry Night—or the most brilliant of man's inventions—can compete. 

Sin may have marred and scarred man's heart after the fall, but God's redemptive love makes us brand new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17—"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

God has breathed His Spirit into His "masterpiece"―empowering us to do good—something we'd be powerless to do in our old sinful state, when we were full of ourselves and our pride.

That's why as Christ-believers, we can with conviction, confess that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

If we are God's masterpiece, I wonder how much value He has affixed on us?

Enough for Jesus to leave heaven's glory! The Son of God became the Son of man; then willingly shed His blood for us—a shameful death—so that those who would put their trust in Him would be saved.

That's worth more than the $100 million affixed on Van Gogh's. Worldly riches are soon gone but our inheritance is eternal. Glory to God!

O Lord, help me to see that you have saved me—made me your masterpiece—to glorify Your name by enabling me to do good works.