Georges Seurat, the French painter that was one of the champions of a style of painting that is called pointillism, utilized color in a new way. He would apply millions of dots of paint to a canvas and the interaction of these would produce a striking work of art.
It was a fresh way to consider the use of color. Only by stepping back a few feet can you even see the image that was created. In order for our brains to “see” the image, you cannot stand close. You must have the perspective a few feet, and even a few yards. The brilliance of this technique is that it took an ability to perceive from a few feet away while he painted within a few inches. There was a direct connection to this significant ability that allowed perspective when he was so close to the surface, and yet he could perceive from a distance.
There has recently been a movement, small as it may seem, that has discovered a direct correlation between the local actions of men and women and the grand affairs of nations. It is not well received, yet the connection is without challenge. The issues of Tiananmen Square have resulted in a bit more openness in China, and the small scale nuclear protest have worked their way into the policies of the United States of America.
But not only can the affairs of the locals affect the affairs of nations, it is without contest that the affairs of nations definitely affect the local population.
Scripture had promised since Adam and Eve had abandoned a close relationship with God in the Garden that there would be a rejoining of this closeness. God promised that the seed of woman would restore the relationship. Yet, for many years, the distinction between God and man threw the relationship into disarray.
But as God stood back in the heavens looking into the populace of the earth, it sat fresh on his mind that He could see the frailty of man. It was readily apparent that the Law only pointed out man’s sin without a real way of restoring a relationship. It was as if the points of color meshed into a picture that was not pleasing. The individual strokes on the canvas weren’t at all what He planned. So He could see the picture as it was, but more importantly, for what it was going to be. However, for all of the strokes there needed a bit more. . . a bit more of the artist standing close for the picture to come together.
The most stunning passage in the New Testament came when He stepped into this world in this manner: Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. God could see from his perch on the throne of Glory, yet understanding was far away.
He needed to understand what and how we feel in order for the picture to be complete. He was God, and as such had created man, yet He could not “feel” as a man felt. So he robed Himself in flesh, coming as a child in Bethlehem, in order to understand the picture. He had painted it from the foundation of the earth. Yet there came a time where he wanted to understand it.
The Bible quite clearly states that he can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He came to understand what He had painted. It is amazing that this little child created an understanding that only by being born into this world, God would understand.
Perspective is one of the hardest things to master in life. . . it is hard both see the big picture and participate in the action. Yet God placed Himself into this position in order to both see and to understand.
In His struggles to and on the Cross, watch the interaction between seeing and understanding. “If it be possible. . . .Let this cup pass,” and “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The chasm of seeing and understanding finally closed. . .and Jesus died for all. . .He had stepped back, and He also had stepped in.
It was a fresh way to consider the use of color. Only by stepping back a few feet can you even see the image that was created. In order for our brains to “see” the image, you cannot stand close. You must have the perspective a few feet, and even a few yards. The brilliance of this technique is that it took an ability to perceive from a few feet away while he painted within a few inches. There was a direct connection to this significant ability that allowed perspective when he was so close to the surface, and yet he could perceive from a distance.
There has recently been a movement, small as it may seem, that has discovered a direct correlation between the local actions of men and women and the grand affairs of nations. It is not well received, yet the connection is without challenge. The issues of Tiananmen Square have resulted in a bit more openness in China, and the small scale nuclear protest have worked their way into the policies of the United States of America.
But not only can the affairs of the locals affect the affairs of nations, it is without contest that the affairs of nations definitely affect the local population.
Scripture had promised since Adam and Eve had abandoned a close relationship with God in the Garden that there would be a rejoining of this closeness. God promised that the seed of woman would restore the relationship. Yet, for many years, the distinction between God and man threw the relationship into disarray.
But as God stood back in the heavens looking into the populace of the earth, it sat fresh on his mind that He could see the frailty of man. It was readily apparent that the Law only pointed out man’s sin without a real way of restoring a relationship. It was as if the points of color meshed into a picture that was not pleasing. The individual strokes on the canvas weren’t at all what He planned. So He could see the picture as it was, but more importantly, for what it was going to be. However, for all of the strokes there needed a bit more. . . a bit more of the artist standing close for the picture to come together.
The most stunning passage in the New Testament came when He stepped into this world in this manner: Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. God could see from his perch on the throne of Glory, yet understanding was far away.
He needed to understand what and how we feel in order for the picture to be complete. He was God, and as such had created man, yet He could not “feel” as a man felt. So he robed Himself in flesh, coming as a child in Bethlehem, in order to understand the picture. He had painted it from the foundation of the earth. Yet there came a time where he wanted to understand it.
The Bible quite clearly states that he can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He came to understand what He had painted. It is amazing that this little child created an understanding that only by being born into this world, God would understand.
Perspective is one of the hardest things to master in life. . . it is hard both see the big picture and participate in the action. Yet God placed Himself into this position in order to both see and to understand.
In His struggles to and on the Cross, watch the interaction between seeing and understanding. “If it be possible. . . .Let this cup pass,” and “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The chasm of seeing and understanding finally closed. . .and Jesus died for all. . .He had stepped back, and He also had stepped in.
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