Some of my favorite artwork is the contemporary realism of American artists such as Edward Hopper. One of his most famous paintings that you might recognize is the one pictured above titled, “Nighthawks.” I love the nostalgic feel and the beauty found in its simplicity and Americana. For each of us, paintings like this tell a different story. As in the case of Nighthawks, it’s easy to imagine what the conversation might have been  that night or put ourselves in the painting maybe through a similar experience at one time during our lives.  Just as with art, our lives creatively tell a story.

The modern church likes to paint in the style called abstract art. It is a departure from reality in depiction of artistic imagery and at times, just leaves you scratching your head in utter bewilderment. For example, for two thousand years the church has painted a picture for us that visualizes the return of Jesus Christ coming on the clouds with his angelic armies, ready to take his beloved church back to paradise.  Yet, I believe that is a picture that does not accurately portray the whole truth as prophesied in the Scriptures. It’s amazing how we can read the same Scriptures and see so many different things. Personally for me, the Bible paints a portrait of redemption and relationship with our creator while others might see it as historical or maybe even a law book and moral compass that can be used to guide our lives by.

IMO, the greatest mistake the church makes today in promising a coming future kingdom diminishes the quality of life you can enjoy while you’re still alive. Christ himself came to tell us that the kingdom of God was with us now. It was a present full kingdom of hope and forgiving grace if we would just open up our hearts to its present reality. A reality that demonstrates itself in the decisions we make and the love and mercy we extend to each other. The kingdom of God is one of conscience and one of the heart and its mainly about living fully no matter our circumstances or what hand life has dealt us.

The good message of the gospel wasn’t a one day future kingdom but a kingdom that has always been present and dwelling within each of us. What lies beyond our existence is a matter of one’s own personal belief and faith. God’s word has been written and most importantly, it has been fulfilled. There are no more chapters nor is there a rapturous ending as the church has painted for us.  

So as you can see, the picture isn’t always what is seems nor what we’ve been told it should look like. Just because you are not walking streets of gold or never crying another tear or the lamb is not lying down with the wolf, doesn’t mean the kingdom of heaven is not here in all its glory because you fail to visualize the beauty in the broken of all human experience. It is here, it is now because as sons and daughters of God it is alive because we are alive.  It is alive because we have the ability to love one another and bare each others burdens if we chose to do so. The kingdom of heaven is the masterpiece of a human life fully lived.

It all comes down to choices in the end. Each one of us are our own best friends or our own worst enemies. Therein lies the true nature of good and evil that has always plagued mankind. We define our own paths on our own Damascus road journey we term redemption. We no longer have to worry about the midnight hour and Jesus doesn’t have to magically appear in the eastern sky one day if you live your life fully in the present and treat others as if they truly matter. There’s your true rapturous experience, there’s your true portrait of salvation.

Edward Hopper once said: “The man's the work. Something doesn't come out of nothing.” Like an artist, each of us are uniquely individual and different. What is on the outside of man doesn’t reveal the whole story because it is the conscience and heart of that same man that makes him completely whole. In reality, sometimes things aren’t always what they seem depending upon your own present journey and personal truths. And just like any artist and the hidden inspiration behind his masterpiece, only you know the difference in what makes you genuine and deceptive at the same time in how you present yourself to others.  It’s your brush and all art is beautiful in some strange and wonderful way.

Now for the "got ya" moment. As in the case of the Hopper painting above, you never know what you are truly looking at because I am the artist who was commissioned and reproduced this picture, Nighthawks, and used it for this particular story. The art of deception is a peculiar thing depending upon your own reality or definition of the truth. Just remember, you are the work in progress because you are the real masterpiece God has commissioned upon the canvas of His glory. The glory that makes us all one in the common experience we share called life.

James Robert Kessler
Because of Him Art Ministry 2009