The Life of the Passage is Sealed II (Sealed No Longer)
The same feeling that floods my heart when I see beautiful intricate patterns, lush outstanding color, or experience melodic layered and nuanced sound also occurs when I read Scripture. The explosion that occurs when I read God's words is infinitely greater though. It is not experienced merely through the eyes and ears but by my spirit. It is taking place inside of me. It is spiritual ears and spiritual eyes that are being opened. How does this happen? How DID this happen?
When Jesus rescued my soul from sin He gave me His Spirit. From the moment He did this everything in my life became brighter. Everything outside became visibly brighter and clearer. And internally there was a peace and joy that was unprecedented. I was so serene and quiet most days that my mom once asked, "Is everything okay son?" "Yeah mom, I'm great". Laughter erupted and still erupts from deep within me often.
It is by the Spirit that this happens. And it takes humility to receive Him. Without humility our posture of heart is, "I already know". Yes, Jesus I know about Him. I get it." But this causes God's resistance. He actually resists the proud. Look it up. It's true. He actually does not draw near to those who have everything figured out; those who marginalize life, art and beauty. But to the heart that is hungry He not only feeds but floods.
The first time I saw an angel her color and brilliance superseded anything of this reality or plane of existence. She was supernatural. The eyes of my heart had been opened (Ephesians 1:17-18). From the teal-like color of her skin to her obsidian impossibly straight hair that carried such a sheen yet seemed impenetrable by light, I was completely enamored. Her eyes almost glowed with white light. But most of all, I could feel the love of God so strong. I instantly, and I mean immediately, started to wail with tears. God is revealing such beauty to the hungry heart. And they will increase.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams." - Acts 2:17 (NKJV)
I have experienced incredible visions because of the Spirit of God. The dreams He gives are otherworldly, more vibrant than the most well-kept and lavishly loved and cared for gardens in all the world.
Consider: If you are a believer in Jesus the Christ, the same Spirit that dwells in you decorated the heavens. Consider.
"By His Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent." - Job 26:13 (ASV)
There is more beauty to come. There will be more visions, more dreams, more prophecies, more angels and more of the Spirit of the Living God.
There's more. The passages have been unsealed. The scroll is now unfurled. He who has ears, hear. He who has eyes, see.
The Life of the Passage Is Sealed
The Life of the Passage is Sealed
Something special happens to us when we experience beauty or when we are touched by joy. When we are awed by magnificent architecture, smile at a playful child smothered in ice cream, examine the colors of a tiger lily or feel the trill of cicada wings trembling through us we are breathing in the texture, happiness, brilliance and excitement of life. It can take time to "smell the roses", to pause long enough to absorb the colors, sounds, and feeling of what is happening around us. Our eyes must be opened. Our ears must catch the tune. Our senses must be trained again to embrace the novelty that outside discovery brings. We must actually humble ourselves. We must dismantle the thought that we are above it all, don't have time for it, that the "IT" is not necessary. We must fight the nagging voice of familiarity that says, "I've seen that a million times". I am certain that we have never truly "seen" anything. Not to its innermost depth. Georgia O'Keefe spent many years of her artistic career and life exploring the worlds within flowers. We think we know bird song. But when was the last time you heard birds singing, chirp, and warble at the impressive sun yawning into the day? The Creator has set us right in the center of this elaborately flavored universe. And within it He has made worlds within worlds. Run your hand along the birch bark as it peels. Stick your toes in the cool creek that could be photographed six trillion times but never identically from one frame to the next. There is a passage of Scripture that invites us into this framework.
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."
This passage is found in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 3. Some translations say, "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed..." This forming, this framing of worlds within worlds is evidenced in a peculiarly magnificent life around us. But in the same way that such artistic beauty, such birdsong can be overlooked or haughtily labeled as insignificant, so it is with the highest of all truths found within the Holy Bible. It is strange that such life-giving dynamic truth can be veiled from our internal senses. It is bizarre that we can become so dull to such flourishing life; that we can see it is familiar and pridefully walk past it and see it as "known" or "discovered". We barely know our spouses. There are things occurring on our jobs right now that we simply don't know even as I write this. Our own bodies surprise us with their changes, particularly as we age.
The passage is sealed.
The life-giving truth in all that God says, through Creation and through His very own words, is often sealed to our carnal ears and eyes. We do not perceive true life. We are not looking for it. We rarely recognize it. I told someone one day that I saw a shooting star the night before. They said dismissively, "It happens more than we realize". I was speechless. I shook my head. The beauty around us is staggering. Yet, we walk so critically already knowing all there is to know. Does the knowledge we gain lead us to greater awe and further discovery or is it simply puffing us up?
The passage is sealed.
The passage is sealed until the Spirit of the Living God unseals it. THEN, in amazing fashion, the eyes of our hearts are opened. Our spiritual ears are unplugged. The mountain that we walked by so many times is truly seen and seen and seen again.
Makoto Fujimura, one of my favorite painters and catalysts for change has been encouraging us on Facebook and Instagram to "listen" to his new paintings - The Blueberry series. To LISTEN to them.
Jesus, my Master, frequently stated, "He who has ears let him hear". To the one whose spiritual ears are open, brilliant truth will come to her or him. Who is it that the Creator receives and reveals His wonders to? Those who tremble at what He says (Isaiah 66:2).
It takes humility to truly see. The passage of life that is sealed becomes open to the humble and hungry heart.
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). When the Holy Ghost breathes on a passage of Scripture that some would see as so familiar. It may be words that they have heard quoted in their favorite movie. They may have gone to church and heard that verse. Whatever the case is, it seems so familiar and known to a heart that is not hungry, to the heart that has been hardened over time to its brilliant truth. "For God so loved the world.." Yes. I know. I've got it. But to the humble heart. To the hungry heart. To the heart with eyes filled with illuminating light there are explosions of life that go off and scatter like confetti within the cavity of the soul. Shards of color slice through the darkness of one's day. Brilliance thunders. Power punches monotony senseless. Truth reigns within the core of our being like an Everlasting King. Righteousness wraps round like a royal coat, keeping us warm from the disappointing dreary days of deception. Life happens. True life. Everlasting life. It blasts us with effervescent freshness. Life is highlighted in every word and rejuvenation floods us. We become instantly refreshed. We can see. We can hear. The passage of life that we could not open, the mysteries and secrets of life, are now unveiled, unlocked and given as warm baked bread for us to breathe in and eat. Humble your heart. Look all around you.
The Master is giving daily bread. Listen to the paintings. Examine the architecture. Run your hands along the rough bark. Splash the river water again. Read and reread the passage. Hear how those birds sing. Watch the clouds dance and metamorphosize. He is giving us daily bread. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse," - Romans 1:20 (NKJV)
New Piece, New Series, New-Man
This trilogy opened my eyes to a powerful truth. “New”, “New II” and “New III” is not only a turning point in my work but a healthy nod to “Barnett Newman” who has greatly influenced what I do. Hence, the work represents a “new” body of work, a “new” phase in my walk with God and essentially a “new-man”. Quite amazingly, “Barnett” means “burned clearing” denoting the clearing of a woodland area for a new start.