Isaiah 64:6

“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers.”

      James Baldwin

An artist went searching the streets of New York City for a model to pose for a portrait he wanted to call “The Prodigal”. One day as he was passing Central Park, he saw an impoverished beggar lying on a bench and thought: "He’s perfect! That man would represent the prodigal son beautifully in my painting." He asked the beggar if he would be willing to sit for his painting and he would gladly pay him for his time. Naturally, the beggar agreed.  On the day and time appointed, a man knocked on the door of the artist’s small Brooklyn studio. Excitedly, he answered his door only to find a clean-shaven young man dressed in a suit and tie standing before him. Disappointed, he said, “You must have the wrong door sir, the law office is down the hall”. “But you made an appointment with me,” the man replied, “No,” said the artist, “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you before. I made an appointment to meet with a beggar here at this hour.” “Well,” said the man, “I am the beggar.” “You?” said the artist, “You’re the beggar?” “Yes,” he replied. “After you left me last week, I found some money and thought I would get a new suit of clothes before you painted me.” “Oh,” replied the artist, “Well, you’re just not right for the job.”  The beggar wanted to show himself a masterpiece before the artist -- but the artist was not looking for that. He wanted to create the masterpiece himself!  God is not looking for people that have already been cleaned up and dressed up in the garments of their own choosing.  God sees beyond the outside and sees a beggar that He can mold and form into what He desires each to be.  When we come to God, we must not come with our own ideas of what we think God wants. We must come before him transparent, with no inhibitions, or worries, or pride. God has already seen our weaknesses and faults. We are not hiding anything from Him anyway.  God is looking for someone that is willing to be molded and shaped with the tools of the Master’s hand.  He is looking for someone that does not “have it all together” because those types of people are usually unwilling to be clay in the Potter’s hand.  The Master Artist has an appointment with us today. Lay aside the mask and the façade that we try do dwelling and just come before Him as you are right now.  Become the paint that sits on the Painters platte so He can take each aspect of our lives and begin to paint a masterpiece that all of heaven will admire.