We live in a world of God’s creation. We are surrounded by his endless masterpieces. The beautiful mountains, the oceans, the sweeping deserts, abundant plants and animals . . . and us. Most days, however, I have to admit that I feel a lot more like a mess than a masterpiece.
I look at the mistakes I’ve made, the goals I haven’t reached, and the behaviors and attitudes that haven’t been quite stellar and I get discouraged. Sometimes I think maybe I’ve just plain screwed up too much to be counted among the masterpieces. How about you?
In Psalm 139, David wrote:
“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.”
He describes himself as a being that was hand-crafted—carefully and lovingly created—a true masterpiece made by God. And yet, this is a man who had made mistakes—big mistakes like adultery and murder. David often missed the mark—and yet God, himself, called him a man after his own heart. How could that be?
The secret is, that in spite of his really bad choices, David would always eventually turn to God and repent. He just kept consistently crying out to God whenever he got off track and little by little God cleaned up the mess and let the original masterpiece shine through again.
Nothing can change our heritage. We were created to be God’s masterpiece. No mistakes or choices we make can alter that. It doesn’t matter how huge or perpetual our stumbles are. As long as we consistently bring the messes we’ve made of our lives to him with repentant hearts, he will painstakingly restore us. It is not always a quick or pleasant process, but it is the only way we can regain our freedom and a clean heart to live as the masterpiece we were meant to be.
What difference would it make in your life if you could more consistently feel like you are one of God’s masterpieces?
Photo image courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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