September 23 - Ephesians 2:1-22 - Some Art Imitates Life; Some Art Animates It

During a two-week mission trip to London, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Madame Tussaud’s, the world famous house of wax. One of the answers to the question, “How do you know you’re REALLY somebody special?” might be, “I have a wax likeness at Madame Tussaud’s.” The artists at MT’s aren’t going to take 250 precise measurements and invest the 800 hours required to produce your likeness if you’re just … anybody. You have to be Mahatma Gandhi or Albert Einstein, or Rachael Ray or the Jonas Brothers. (Yeah, fame’s a funky thing.) It’s a stunning experience to walk among that encyclopedic ‘who’s who’ of modern times. And a little weird, too – so life-like and so lifeless at the same time.

Of course, we should all be used to that, seeing as the Scripture describes the whole human race in such terms. Today’s text states that we are all at one point “dead in our sins.” Oh, we’re alive, because we have the ability to “follow the ways of the world.” We have desires, thoughts and cravings that we look to gratify. There’s a lot of activity there – but … ‘so life-like and so lifeless at the same time.’

One of the strange thoughts that goes through your head at Madame Tussaud’s (or maybe just my head; I may be stranger than most) is the thought that you could bring one of the figures to life. A particular sculpture draws your attention. You fix your eyes on that impeccably crafted face. You try to focus some kind of untapped energy in your brain as you imagine a slight tilt of its head and shift of the eyes. If I tried, could I actually vivify this thing?

There are so many ‘art’ words in today’s text; “made,” “raised up,” “workmanship,” “prepared,” “create,” “built,” and “joined together.” Each of these words refers to an action of God, and reveals Him to be the most extraordinary and superior artist of all. This Creative Genius DOES take the dead and make them alive! This Divine Sculptor takes contaminated clay and raises up vessels of honor. This Master remakes the soul, producing a whole new kind of person and a whole new kind of people. His art is the art of salvation and reconciliation.

And what of God’s motivation and means? These are key questions for the art critic; why did the artist do it and how?

“…Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved … the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus … through the blood of Christ … through the cross …”

His great love and kindness moved Him. The blood of the cross of Christ was His medium. His method revealed His unparalleled grace. And His masterpiece is the company of the redeemed.

“For we ARE God’s workmanship …”

Pray: Matchless Master Craftsman, you have crafted me in Your image and restored me unto life everlasting. You are working on me that You might work through me. Help me not to be resistant clay in your hands. As man-made objects are made and sold for millions of dollars, let me ponder the worth of my own God-made life. And as a result, worship and serve You forever.