Abraham Lincoln

A few years ago, I visited the Norman Rockwell museum in Massachusetts with my family while on vacation. It was amazing to see many paintings and illustrations on display that I’d seen in the Saturday Evening Post and other publications throughout my life.

My favorite Rockwell painting is Norman Rockwell’s own self-portrait. It’s anything but serious. When we visited his studio, I was happy to see the same helmet hanging on the top of his easel that appears in his portrait. Rockwell bought the helmet in 1923 from an antiques dealer in Paris France. The dealer said it was a military relic. As it turns out, it was a modern French fireman’s helmet. He kept it close by to remind himself of his own foolishness.

Many other famous artists, including the likes of Durer, Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Dali painted self-portraits. If you were to do your own self-portrait, how would you do it? How do you see yourself? Serious? Comical? Winner? Loser? Hero? Clown?

At Walt Disney World, you can buy a parody of Rockwell’s self-portrait. It features Mickey Mouse seated in front of the easel, paint brush in hand. In this version, when Mickey looks at himself, he sees his creator, Walt Disney. I wonder, how do you think God sees you? Do you see you the way God does?

Ephesians 2:10 says,

 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

You are God’s workmanship. That’s right, God thinks you are a real piece of work! In Greek, the word “workmanship” is poiema, from which we get the word, poem. You are God’s poem. Don’t think about something wimpy. Think about Homer’s Odyssey, or Beowulf who slayed the monster Grendel. Powerful poetry. That’s you. Regardless of how you see yourself or how you feel about yourself, when God looks at you he sees an amazing work of art.

That word, Poiema, is only used in one other place in the New Testament. That’s in Romans 1:20.

 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God. (NLT)

Whenever God paints, He paints a self-portrait. That’s the incredible scenery you enjoy when you are gardening, or hunting, or fishing, or hiking, or taking a walk. Even the powerful storm is part of how He is revealing Himself. And you are also one of the things He created.

You are a part of God revealing Himself, right here, right now, just as you are, before you take one step. And being transformed in Christ, you are gifted and equipped to reach the whole world. You are God’s powerful poem, part of His self-portrait, created to know Him and reflect Him.