Painting-Unknown
It’s hard to think about being in the hand of God when you consider that He made the universe and all the worlds. Why would He bother with me? It’s not a new thought at all. Everybody thinks it. In the day to day experience, even as a Christian, trying to live the Christian life, the hands of God don’t usually come into my thoughts. Other than passing through my mind as a truth I acknowledge, and I go on about my business.
But when Jesus really becomes that all personal and intimate Partner in our lives, that changes everything. He has hands that are scarred because of my sin. I’ve seen artists’ renderings about that. That’s nice. But now I’ve lived long enough to know that I need His hand to uphold me because without Him, I make plenty of messes.
A pastor in a church I once attended talked about an artist who painted the arm of Jesus while on the cross. That’s it, just the arm with the nail in His hand. Once the painting was finished and the artist went to bed that night, he had a dream.
“The painting is wrong,” God told him. “Go back and do it again.”
The next day, the artist studied the painting. It looked fine to him. Yet, this doubt at the back of his mind persisted. He picked up his tools and faced a new canvas. He began to paint.
The first painting showed a twisted arm and fingers trying to bunch into a fist to combat terrible pain. Pain that could twist your insides just like that arm as you look.
This new work portrayed a muscular arm with fingers relaxed against the wood. This is the Arm of Redemption. Pain and strain are there, but the great purpose of salvation overrides it. The viewer knows that Love has stretched out this arm.
Nail scarred hands have upheld me through every situation. I know that He will never leave me nor forsake me. I am upheld by His hand and I am safe.
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