Beautiful order

I stepped outside into the pre-dawn morning. While the air was cold and crisp, my heart was warmed by the Creator’s star-filled sky. It was beautiful. It was clear. It was such a refreshment from the rainy, dreary weather we’ve had here lately.

It’s strange to me how the weather can sometimes dictate my moods. The clouds can foster a fog over my heart and mind while the sun breaking through can bring brightness over everything. It’s like God’s clear morning sky brought clarity to my mind. I think it’s because it was so beautiful. The stars were perfection, numbered and placed exactly as they should be. The site was aesthetically pleasing as well as orderly and structured. Isn’t it just this way with all things of God? The beautiful is beautiful to the eyes and soul, and yet it also provides the mind with the comfort that the world is logical and orderly.

God created beauty and order. Lately, I have been craving both of them. I am looking for the beautiful. I can hardly describe it, but I’m longing to hear music that is stirring and satisfying. I want to appreciate the visual as well, seeing colors anew, carefully chosen and strategically arranged by the artist. I seek thoughtfully arranged pieces of film to tell a story, to entice me in, and move my soul.

I am looking for God. I long to see the beauty of God in everything, in nature, in the arts, in the media. And it’s there. Sometimes we might have to look beyond the non-biblical philosophies running rampant today, but it’s there. It’s there because we were all created in the image of God. Thats true for believers and non-believers alike. Any creativity and abilities we have come from the Creator Himself.

I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:3

Our problem lies in that we sometimes cover our skills, ability and knowledge so fully with our human stamp that we diffuse the fingerprints of God - Who gave us the gifts and talents in the first place. God gave us the ability to produce works of art that can satisfy both the beauty and order we crave. While we usually think of art as only in the fields of music and painting, God gives us so much more. We can be creative in any gift or talent we have. It all comes from God.

But even more important than what we do, is what God has already done. The most creative work of art God created is you.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Some Bible translations call us God’s “masterpiece.” We are creative beings because our Creator made us so. He gave us good works to do while we are here on this earth. He placed abilities, along with desires, on our hearts and minds to stir us on. He gave us gifts, He wants us to use them. I wonder what would happen if we did. Would not the world be a more beautiful and orderly place? What if we Christians cultivated our talents to produce beauty and order in this world? What if we gave ourselves to show God’s glory with our gifts and talents? What if we could encourage and equip fellow Christians with our works of art? What if unbelievers saw the glory of God in our works and were moved by His Spirit to become new creations?

We cannot convert people. That is God’s sole providence. But we are His ambassadors while we are here on earth, and He does His work through us by His Spirit. Let’s be willing to be used to create beauty and order out of the chaos in the world today. Let’s replace our mediocrity and halfhearted attempts with excellence and integrity. Let’s yield to the Beautiful One. Our offerings will be beautiful to Him and He will make them beautiful to others.