“Seek the Lord” © by Donna Gonzalez
Yikes! It’s just after 10 pm and I just realized today’s the last day of October and I have been so busy that I’ve nearly missed uploading October’s Newsletter on time! Funny thing is…as I write this I’m beginning to realize something and it’s exciting what comes to mind. It all makes perfect sense with this scripture! Confused? Let me explain a bit of background on this artwork…
I painted this mosaic earlier in the year using a new technique in which I simply splattered and poured different colors of paint randomly on the canvas. As the paint moved on its own the colors started to merge and blend on their own creating shapes that morphed in no particular order. As this happened I took photographs of how the paint moved across the canvas. Random yes, without God’s fingerprints, without a higher purpose? Nope!
The painting is comprised of only four mosaics duplicated three times and placed into a pattern until each side matched up perfectly.
Iconography: Highlighted below is a mirrored image of a man who is wearing a red and blue robe resembling a Christ-figure seated at a shiny glass table. He is looking both upward and over his right shoulder. Or over his left shoulder depending on which mirrored image you’re looking at. I noticed this immediately after I put the four mosaics together and thought of Isaiah 55:6. But, the next hidden image I didn’t see until I started writing this post.
At his side stands what appears to be a large angel in a red robe with blue wings holding his hands outstretched. I outlined the angel’s arms in pale blue on both mirrored images below.
At the table in front of the Christ-figure appears shapes that suggest food and drink.
The four mosaics placed together form the pattern of a cross.
The scripture is taken from Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”
If you look closely you’ll see what appears to be large areas of the canvas showing through most notable on the edges that form the central cross. Those are areas which didn’t get completely covered up with paint as it moved across the canvas.
So…just how does this scripture all fit in with me posting this newsletter an hour or so before midnight before the next month begins? Actually quite a lot.
You see, I had all the best intentions on getting October’s newsletter out much earlier this month, but try as might I have been kept from posting it, simply because…well, I’ve been focused on doing other important things.
And they were all good things that kept me away. In the back of my mind I kept having the nagging reminder to write this newsletter. I didn’t set aside TIME to do it until I realized how late it was. In hindsight that may have been a God thing to make His message all the more clear to me.
Should I happen to finish this post after my deadline of midnight it’s no biggie for me; I simply back post date this writing to be sometime before midnight October 31st. On the contrary after death, no one has the ability of going back into time before their deadline (death) to accept Christ’s gift of salvation.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: – Hebrews 9:27
God is holy and desires to restore our broken relationship with Him. He provided the only means possible, through faith alone in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus wants us to be born-again, to know Him as God and Savoir before every person’s deadline has come. Unfortunately many people take a cavalier attitude towards the Gospel message, defer obeying it since more “important pressing things” need to be done and experienced first.
As the Christ figure is seated at the table waiting to eat in the painting, in reality Jesus waits for everyone to come and dine with Him, to have a relationship with Him. I was being reminded throughout the month to write this post before the deadline and likewise, the Holy Spirit reminds people who’ve heard the Gospel message yet not followed through to make that decision to follow Jesus before it’s too late. The food symbolizes the bread and the wine, our communion remembering all He did for us. Jesus says:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” – Revelation 3:20
Jesus is the author of salvation and the only One who can remedy man’s sin problem before a Holy God. He paid a very high price for our redemption, likewise the symbol of the cross is central in the painting. So very important is everyone’s eternal destiny that God urges everyone to come to Him today and not wait for tomorrow. Without salvation in Christ Jesus in this life, there is no hope of eternal life in the next. God says:
“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” -Isaiah 55:6
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18
Many people are deep in sin-sick captivity, bondage to all kinds of things; fears, addictions, obsessions etc., they are lost and bound in darkness having no idea that by calling upon God He is willing to save, forgive, heal, restore, deliver and set at liberty those who are captive.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” – Jeremiah 29:11-14
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” – John 3:16-18
“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” – Romans 10:13
Did you know there is not one paintbrush stroke in this painting? The paintbrush never touched the canvas. Neither did I intentionally paint an angel, a table, cross or the Christ-figure, that was all God’s fingerprints. Likewise neither is salvation wrought by any man or woman’s merit or work. It is all God’s doing.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:10
One last thing about this painting, it’s the angel. I imagine this angel has been asked by Christ if a person has responded to the Gospel message. What the angel’s response is depends on how each viewer of this mosaic painting responds to the Gospel message. Is the angel about to rejoice or is the angel sadly replying; “No Lord, they said not today.”
May this post encourage others to see the value of each person’s worth and the incredible significance in believing in Jesus Christ for eternal life today and not put it off for another time.
in Him,
Donna
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