For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:20
On our recent trip to Europe, my husband and I visited the beautifully ornate Buckingham Palace in London and the Lourve in France. We also dined at an Ottolenghi restaurant, a famous London chef, who transforms vegetables into plated masterpieces. All these places housed masterpieces of art and boasted centuries of history in food and culture. While each place was spectacular, I am sure they could not hold a candle to the glory and splendor of God’s masterpiece – His temple.
In the Old Testament the book of Exodus clearly details the ornate and purposeful design of the temple of God. The description and detail of each table, lamp stand and altar were purposefully designed by God. Every detail is recorded down to what the priest should wear and the gold plating on every plate and cup. “For Aaron’s sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty.” Ex 28:40. The purpose of all these palaces and for the temple alike was to house the King, to display the beauty and glory of the designer, and to represent the glory of the nation. They are true masterpieces of their time.
There is a saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I know that true beauty is in the heart of the designer – God. God is beautiful and He loves beauty. He designed people after His image to reveal His beauty and to glorify Him. Just as each palace, monument, painting, and restaurant we visited revealed the glory of the designer or creator; so ‘we’ as God’s masterpiece can reflect His glory and beauty. A masterpiece can look completely different from one person’s perspective to another. What makes something a masterpiece is not how other’s perceive it, but how the creator has fashioned it to be plated for his glory and beauty. God has fearfully and wonderfully created me to uniquely display His glory. I am fashioned and plated to go out and be beautiful for Him!
Be Beautiful
Designed. Detailed. Masterpiece.
How am I drawing out beauty as a follower of Jesus? Do I reflect the image of God to others?