HOW CAN I PAINT GOD

Imagination is integral to my craft as a painter. Suppose that I consider painting a picture of God, not as an idol to be worshipped but rather to tell God's story using visual imagery, how can I paint God when God is not observable? I am confounded. God is concealed, invisible. I have no model, nothing upon which to base a rendering. However, I remember that Jesus was a young adult when prayed the words, “our Father who lives in heaven.” Imagination encourages me to envision God the Father as at least one generation older than Jesus himself. Furthermore, in first century culture, men did not shave their beards so God likely had a long white beard. Would that seem plausible? It's highly unlikely. Let's say that it's at least convenient because it indulges the human mind that finds it easier to process the physical than the spiritual.

The famous Italian artist Michelangelo had no hesitation in painting a representation of God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. In his central scene of creation, Michelangelo painted God as a Caucasian white-bearded grandfatherly patriarchal figure extending his forefinger in a gesture by which he was imparting life to a newly created Adam. That was pure speculation and it was likely gloriously incorrect because no one has seen God the Father and the Bible says that God is spirit and we cannot assume God looks like a man. In fact the task of painting God is more problematic than any of us might imagine.

FIRST MAN AND FIRST WOMAN

That act of rebellion by the first man and first woman defaced the image of God in the human in various ways. Human intelligence was impaired so people constantly erred in their reasoning. Morally and socially humankind no longer reflected God's image, being unable any longer to distinguish between good and evil but rather began to exploit others. Human mental, emotional and relational health has been damaged ever since. And you can’t fix those areas first and then hope to have a relationship with God.

God’s good news is that because God made humanity to reflect him and that image was marred by sinfulness he determined to restore the image bearing capacity and to do that he sent his Son into the world where the Son, Jesus, lived such a perfect sinless life that he revealed the exact image of the invisible God, actually God in human flesh, and the plan all along was that this sinless one would give himself as an atoning sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. This is the great recovery of the image bearers.

When the resemblance was distorted, God went to an extraordinary length to rescue us. And from the moment that you place your faith in Christ’s atoning death for sin, you are redeemed through Christ and you begin to bear the image of His Son. Jesus modeled that life. Your life now corresponds with God’s creation purpose that you should be like God and enjoy powers that God puts in you. It is what it means to be truly human.