What if Picasso Painted Your Life?

Picasso’s paintings are interesting, unusual, collectable and expensive. It wouldn’t be straying from the truth to say his paintings are different. To be politically correct, they imbue the viewer to examine their youthful connections to LSD! One pauses to consider if any of his paintings are representative of their life! His bold use of form and color evoke a visceral effect on those who don’t drink. Artists say his works are vibrant, provocative, intense, on-the-edge, subdues and a hundred other adjectives. He was that diverse! Most of us believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Much like the country fella who said, “I know what I don’t like!”

Suppose the famous artist and you sat down for a talk. You told him about your life in detail, and he in turn, would express your life experiences in his unique artistic style. Let’s pretend his professional artistic impression of your life looks like a cat got into a basket of knitting yarn and had a ball! Would you be amazed and congratulate him on his insightful depiction of your fascinating life, or would you look for a double-edged sword? What if it looked foolish and confusing like the tangled string mess pictured here, all strung out? Romans addresses this in chapter 1:21, “…they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.”

Everyone’s life is like a painting on display for the world to see. Abraham was seen for his strong faith. Moses is remembered for standing up to Pharaoh and saying; let my people go. Joshua was a military and civic leader. David was a giant slayer and after God’s own heart. Solomon was considered the world’s wisest and richest man. Daniel was a man of courage and faith. Isaiah was an evangelical prophet who focused on the redemptive work of the Messiah. Paul is called the apostle to the Gentiles. And the list is endless. It doesn’t matter what your life looks like, as long as God approves, it’s beautiful. “You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” (1 Peter 3:4)

Previews of Coming Attractions

How would you feel about going to the movies to see, “This Was Your Life”!? Imagine your whole life shown on an eighty foot wide screen in Technicolor! Those in the audience would see every day of your life from the moment you were born. They would see you from the first day of life, on to kindergarten and elementary school through middle and high school plus those crazy ‘daze’ of college, with everything shown in Panavision, with different camera angles as an extra. The director’s cut edition, with absolutely nothing cut out! A Reel tragedy?

From school to your first job, your teenage years, your time in the military, your loves, your marriage, your career, your kids, your in-laws…everything is your life is on review! Let’s not forget about your first lie, your first curse words, your first dirty joke, you first indiscretions, your chance to do something good that you passed up, your attempt at church, the veneer that others witness—instead of the Reel you! There are years and years of antics, bloopers, miscues, and much more. Everybody get your popcorn and soda ready, the show starts as soon as you die!

Wait…things could turn out differently. How, you ask—you plead.

For one thing, when the “Book of Life” is opened, your name better be there! “And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise. If you insist on your life being played to an audience, keep ignoring God and His pleas. If you want eternal peace start making changes Reel soon! It’s Reel important! Reely!

“What is your life anyway? You are a mist (a vapor) that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

Ockham's Razor

Why were Roman soldiers gambling for the cloak of Jesus at his crucifixion? Opportunity, chance, luck, circumstances? Many have speculated about the reasons, but maybe there is an obvious reason. Crucifixion was a brutal and hideous form of death. The Romans were expert at administering this brand of execution. They were not only experts at it, but, they loved it. People had gotten used to seeing a crucifixion; it was a daily reminder to fear Roman authority. The Roman soldiers were to be respected and feared because they were a powerful and brutal army occupying Palestine. Ockham’s razor, named after William of Ockham (1285-1349), is a rule stating that entities should not be multiplied needlessly. Simply put, the simplest of two or more competing theories is preferable or that an explanation for unknown phenomena should first be attempted in terms of what is already known. Which bring us back to the question, why were they gambling for His clothes? Two options are available: by chance or design. The simple answer is: the victim’s clothes were spoils for his executioner. The Roman soldiers were doing what they had done hundreds of times before, just as Jesus’ clothes were gambled for, by casting lots. It was prophesized centuries ago; 

“They divide my garments among them

And cast lots for my clothing.”

Psalms 22:18

It’s a great insult to human dignity to rob a person (and Christ was human) of everything, even his clothing, leaving him naked and destitute. Jesus the Messiah would suffer this humiliating experience on the cross (Matthew 27:35). Bottom line and first line of defense: 

Every detail of your salvation was planned in advance, it wasn’t a gamble.

Loaded Words

Growing up you heard the little rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. You may also remember how nice kids can be to each other. Well, now that you have a few years under your belt, which heals faster—a broken arm or a pointed barb shot willy-nilly from an underdeveloped imbecilic juvenile mind? Broken bones heal, but a few misplaced idiotic words can leave an open sore for years. Maybe the wound never heals.

You’re stupid, you’re ugly, you’re dumb, you’re a fatty, you’re a loser, and you’re a cry-baby. Sticks and stones can indeed break bones, but words can scar, cripple and wound for a lifetime. Some very successful people have clawed their way to the top just to prove something personal. Harmful words are an adult version of bullying. Lawyers file lawsuits for slander and libel all the time. Grade school may be decades past, but who still remembers that cruel remark made by someone slinging and idiotic insult? You’ve got cooties. You’ve got four eyes. You’re clothes look terrible. There are therapists who work tirelessly to restore self-esteem and self-worth to counter verbal abuse. Those old wounds open easily. Overcoming those barriers with dogged persistence and determination is the stuff life is made of.

The Bible mentions several individuals who spoke in haste with regrettable consequences. We read of their lives and say, “I’d never be that proud”. Maybe not, but maybe you’ve taken matters into your own hands and ignored the urging of God and His Spirit? Harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15), but love is patient, love is kind (1 Corinthians 13).

Any fool can spew out hurtful words like bullets, but it takes a wise person to offer kindly words like a bouquet of flowers. Perhaps, we should listen to what language God is speaking to us instead of listening to what others spew out. God speaks all languages—including yours, ours, theirs and any others. What language does God speak to you?

Bottom Line:

Our words come from our mouths not somewhere outside as if we were using a ventriloquist’s voice or a dummy. The Scriptures tell us to treat our words carefully: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19). The Bible also tells us in Matthew 12 that every man will have to give account on the judgment day for every careless word they have spoken.

Tools of the Trade

coolIt’s a brave new world. In the past a doctor would make house calls to tend to the sick and needy. Jesus didn’t carry a little black medical bag with instruments and bandages, but he did make house calls and sometimes healed the sick—long distance! One day early in His ministry, He was traveling through Nazareth and stopped at the Synagogue. He read a passage from the scroll of Isaiah 61:1-2 and then sat down. He only read 80% of the passage, because the other 20% dealt with His second coming and wasn’t relative to the moment. The Bible says, the eyes of everyone in the Synagogue were on Him, and they all spoke well of Him.

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: Physician, heal yourself!” Luke 4:23 

Jesus was a traveling evangelist. He was known by all as that prophet who put those uppity Pharisees and Sadducees in their place, healed the sick and infirmed, raised the dead, and gave the people hope and comfort. Jesus loved the people of his country deeply. He once made the comment:

“No prophet is accepted in his hometown.” Luke 4:24

The day Jesus was crucified there was a crowd gathered at the foot of the cross. The people present couldn’t understand how such a promising life could end so horribly. How could such a good man suffer such injustice! Luke records at the cross that day the comments some people made:

The people and the rulers said: “He saved others, let him save himself.” The soldiers said: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” The criminal said: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Does this remind you of anything?!  

Tired of Others Speaking for You?

I am a rebel. I admit it. I love writing, letters, words, calligraphy, drawing and getting right to the point (the leaded point that is). And if all doesn’t go perfect, I have a little pinkish, rubbery thingy on my head that’ll correct my mistakes. Indeed, I’m different.

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I’m an ordinary, number #2, yellow pencil. Everyone likes to put me to the test! I’m currently running for the office of President of the United States of America. I was actually made in the U.S. A. I’m not too hard or too soft. My opponents have labeled me as HB and as H6, but as you can plainly see, I’m a number two #2 through and through. Some of my opponents have called me a Zealot! Imagine that. Not a Ticonderoga, Franklin or a China knock-off; but a Zealot. I guess it goes to show that the so-called experts don’t recognize a standard. An All-American mainstay!

Being called a Zealot reminds some people of that guy in the Bible. You know the one; he was one of the twelve apostles. Simon the Zealot. A Zealot in the purest sense was a nationalistic sect, the direct opposite of the Publicans. Speaking of Publicans, another of the twelve apostles was Matthew the Publican. Imagine that, Jesus choosing a Zealot and a Publican, from bitterly rival factions! Jesus didn’t condone the sins of the Zealot or the Publicans. But, Jesus did reserve some of his most bitter words for the hypocrisy of the Publicans. Any reasonable person would be asking why. Why choose people from two rival factions to be apostles? Why indeed!

Did Jesus make a mistake? Hardly! If you have studied the life of Jesus at any length you realize that Jesus didn’t make mistakes, errors in judgment, or boo boos. Not one! Every move was calculated, every decision was historic, and every gesture had both obvious and subtle implications. Nothing done in those short, thirty-three (33) years was wasted or squandered. In short, Jesus maximized his time.

Isn’t that what we ask of our politicians? Not to be perfect, but to act responsibly in their official capacity? An elected official is a representative of the people they are governing. A Zealot, a Publican, or a Pharisee, a Democrat, a Republican, or Independent; it’s not a tag hanging around your neck that’s important. What’s important is not the authority given, but the administration of it. Remember what Christ said: “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18 It’s where you get your authority that counts. Elected officials should insist that every day their lives be lived for all to see. Jesus lived his life publicly—shouldn’t that be the example?