Hall of Lives

I have never visited the NC Museum of Art. I would imagine there are some wonders to behold in those galleries. I'm sure there are some pieces I'm not at all afraid of missing. Then again there are probably others which would be absolutely fascinating. Imagine if you will, a hall full of people stiff as statues that line the wall. A bit grotesque, to be sure, but just follow along as there is method to my madness.

Imagine you find yourself walking down a quiet corridor of frozen people, as though you were wandering the halls of a wax works museum like that of Natural Bridge in Virginia. Each person you pass has a story. Each is very different from the other. Some are young, and some are old. Some are men and some are women.

As you grace past one at a time, you notice a little button just by their heads. Above the button is a red plate with the words, "Press Here." Curiously, you press the button, and as you stand in front of the frozen life, you begin to hear conversations. You hear phrases. You hear bits and pieces recounting the life of the person who is frozen before you. After the recording stops you take a breath and begin to draw conclusions about that person based upon what you heard. After it is over, you also begin to realize why the frozen person is dressed as they are. Why they have the look in their eyes that they have. You have essentially been given a glimpse at the person, and what their life was all about. Like a piece of art, they communicate to you something, regardless if it's positive or negative. You move on, anxious to find out about the lives of the others in the hall.

Imagine someone came to you in that hall of lives. What would they think? And for those of you who profess to be followers of Christ, what would the onlookers think of your God? Your supposed faith?

I will tell you plainly, this is happening every single day. Granted, we are not frozen as a wax statue, but we are living and breathing. There are plenty of gazers who cross our paths who catch a glimpse of our lives in just a brief moment. What do they walk away thinking?

Jesus said "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:8) As a painting bespeaks the mind, heart, and soul of the painter, so we are living testimonies of our Creator. What sort of fruit are we producing? Is it pointing others to the Artist who has shaped us? Or is it leaving everyone with a sour taste as they would feel looking at a poorly contstructed work of art.

Here is where grace enters the picture, so to speak. Our lives are not frozen in time. We are changing, we are growing. What someone saw and thought about you yesterday can be changed. They can see who you once were and see now how God has shaped you into who you are today. They can see a poorly constructed life changed into a beautiful masterpiece that bespeaks only of a Master Artist! Only the Almighty God on High can take a life of evil, full of shortcomings, and full of sin and transform it into a life that speaks of His glory.

SO, how exactly DO we glorify God with our lives? We keep his commands. We love! Read John 15, to find out all about what it means to keep Christ's commands. In the meantime, remember...others are watching! Get out of the way and let them see Christ in your life!