Art has always been a passion of mine. I love painting and using all the beautiful colors to capture the beauty around me on canvas. Recently, I have learned how a canvas is made. I have never actually made one but have read how it is done. It has simple steps but takes a skilled hand to do it correctly.
When you look at a beautiful painting, what is the first thing you notice?
The bright and beautiful colors...
The design...
Ultimately, the collage of paint creating an image.
You wouldn’t even think about the sturdy frame and canvas that displays the paint. Likewise, we ourselves must not be what is first seen but God, Yaweh. As believers, we are the canvas, His temple. We are His canvases that He promises to use to paint a masterpiece… if we will let Him.
So how do you make a canvas?
1. First, a canvas must be washed.
The canvas must be washed to remove any dirt or dust that would ruin the paint or keep it from sticking. When we are saved by receiving Jesus into our hearts we become born again and cleansed. We are made new. Once washed, the canvas shines and is pure white.
“And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” ~Acts 22:16
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Over time, however, the canvas collects dust and begins to yellow. As Christians, we have been forgiven and cleansed but we still need to be constantly sanctified.
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
” Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ~John 13:6-10
We are not perfect nor can we be. We are already clean, but we need our feet washed every day. So we must continually go before Yaweh to be renewed.
2. Next, the canvas must be sized.
As Christians, we must be sized so that we are not flaky, lukewarm Christians and so it is not the canvas (ourselves) that is seen but the painting (Yaweh.) When the canvas is flaky the paint will not stick and will fall off revealing the canvas.
“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” ~Revelation 3:16
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” ~John 15:2
During the sizing process there is a special coating that is painted over the canvas to keep it from flaking. Likewise, there is a special coat that we as Christians must put on. The armor of the spirit.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” ~Ephesians 6:11
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” ~Colossians 3:12
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” ~Ephesians 6:13
3. Canvas must be stretched.
If canvas is not stretched tight, then over time it will start to sag and will mar the painting. Yaweh stretches us so our message of Him won’t sag. He is constantly teaching us and bending us… molding us to be more like Him. It often times is painful, but in the end.. when you look back over all the hard times and see all that Yaweh accomplished. You know it was worth the pain when you realize all that was gained. Yaweh wants us stretched to make us mature Christians lacking in nothing and strong in our faith.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~James 1:2-4
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” ~1 Peter 1:6-7
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” ~James 1:12
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” ~1 Peter 5:10
After these three things then the canvas is ready for the paint. Each day we must be cleansed, put on our coat and be ready and willing to be stretched so that Yaweh can paint a masterpiece for the whole world to see.
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew.."~Ephesians 2:10
Joyfully His,
~Afton Elizabeth
