The Watchers

This is one of those artworks I did just for fun, and later discovered it had a lot of meaning in it.  Since it isn't all that obvious, I'll explain it.  Click on the picture to see it large.

I was making this for a "party"/ art contest I was having on my Flickr stream to celebrate my 3 year anniversary on there.  I wanted to involve people, so I tried to make something interesting, and invited lots of my contacts.  What I didn't think about was, I was saying a lot about myself and my belief system. [to see the contest description and entries on my photostream, click here:
"The Watchers" on ArteZoe's stream on Flickr
to go directly to the related gallery, use this link:]
The Winners' Gallery by ArteZoe on Flickr

I believe this artwork represents a safe, clean and fun celebration. The reason I now call this "The Watchers" is because it is full of personages who are watching "the viewer" and the party-goers.  The reality of this is what keeps a "party" or other get-together safe and fun.  Really, faithful oversight is what should keep life on this planet a free and enjoyable thing.  (There is much to say about this, but I probably won't say it-- I'll let you think about it instead.) 

First, I thought of the woman in the foreground as being my "alter ego," or an artistic representation of myself.  She is the hostess, and the reigning  princess in this artistic space, as I am of my Flickr stream and all my other places, whether in cyberspace or in my 3D world.  If it's in my realm of authority, I have the responsibility of watching over it.  If evil tries to come in, it's my duty to get rid of it.  Because I take this responsibility, my places are safe, fun and peaceful places to be.  I take this very seriously.  To me, hospitality is much more than a physical task, although I try to do my best at that as well.  It is an opportunity to serve people and minister to their souls and spirits as well as bless them with physical pleasure and comfort.  I hope this is what I am able to do with my creative work in general, and in my home.

Because this artwork was a form of self portrait, I put in several things that were symbolic to me personally.  The large chickadee in the foreground represents me as a child.  The reason for this is that my mother always used to call me "chickadee."  The chickadee says to me that I should never lose my childlike joy and wonder in life, or my freedom of creativity.  I need to be true to myself and who I was created to be. 

The chickadee also reminds me that I shouldn't reject the good things about my upbringing: how to be a great hostess was one of the things my mother well demonstrated and taught to me.  Here, the chickadee becomes one of the watchers; although I am free from overbearing parental voices (speaking psychologically), I still respect my parents and the conscience they built into me.  I am most grateful for it, especially seeing so many people these days who seem to have no conscience.  Our conscience can be added as one of the watchers.  If we are still minors, our parents are still watchers in our life.  They are responsible for keeping their children as safe and healthy as they can, giving them a good home and environment, and training them to be fine adults.  The boundaries they set and the discipline they do should be loving and consistent, and based on God's truths and an understanding of them. 

Lack of diligent and loving parenting is one of the main reasons the younger generations are hurting so much.  In general, they seem to be parenting themselves and each other.  This affects the future of society and is a great concern of mine.  In this artwork, the young people are having a free and fun time, without fear or inhibition.  They don't need to be rebellious (or distant from the watchers) because they understand that the watchers have their best interests at heart.  This could be considered a rather utopian view, one which doesn't hold up well if you look around at the world.  This is a Kingdom of God view, not exactly a "world view, because the only trustworthy watchers would be those who are faithfully submitted to God.  Children really can trust them. 

People in the world today seem to be polarizing into one of two categories (speaking in great generalities here): either completely rebellious against all authority, or totally too trusting-- to the gullible and easily deceived and controlled level.  Neither one of these stances are safe.  There's only one way to be truly safe and free, and that is under God's perfect rule and covering.

The glowing gazebo represents a covering and a safe place.  In much of my artwork it also symbolizes a place of romantic privacy and marital bliss, faithfulness and safety.  Interestingly enough (to me at least), the gazebo takes on that meaning here as well.  Another level of meaning in this artwork is purity and faithfulness in a couple's relationship.  The white rose represents love and purity.  The hostess feels safe and generous because she is in proper relationship with her husband (even though he is not obviously in the picture).  The swans always represent marital love, purity and faithfulness in my artwork, as in nature swans stay with their mate throughout their life.  In this artwork, the swans are swimming away from the guests, leading them towards the castle on the lake.  The castle represents the Kingdom of God as a place of safety and loving rule by Christ the King. 

The message in this for the upcoming generations is that it is possible, and needful, to keep themselves sexually pure until marriage, and to keep their marriage holy by being loving and faithful to one another.  As children grow into teens, especially with the pressure towards sexual experimentation and same-sex relationships, it is very important that the watchers in their lives help them in these choices.  It is truly in their best interest to do things God's way, and life definitely is much more fun when one is free from dark and evil.

There are a couple of other watchers, who seem dark, but that is simply because their jobs are mostly unseen by us.  The bagpiper in the gazebo on the right is, at first glance, simply an interesting mode of entertainment.  I put him there because I happen to like bagpipes and other celtic music, and this, of course, is my party!  But thinking about the concept of watchers, I realize he represents another set of watchers: "the great cloud of witnesses" in heaven.  Some of my ancestors are English, Scottish and Irish.  This is part of a traditional heritage that I am interested in historically and artistically.  It is also part of my religious heritage.  The ancestors who have gone before are all watching, hoping we will hold fast to the truths they lived their lives and died for.  As Christians seeking to walk daily by the leading of the Holy Spirit, it is wise not to stray from the foundations and clear paths built by our forebears.

The other mysterious watcher on the left -- the mythical beast the griffin-- represents an angelic warrior to me, I think, as lions and eagles are both spiritual (and prophetically meaningful) symbols in the Bible.  God's angels are watchers who are constantly ready to follow God's word.  As long as we are submitted to God, they will be guarding us and our environment.  The mythological griffin guarded the gold.  In one way, I see the significance of trusting God and His agents to be the watcher over my property, including my intellectual property and images.  Knowing this allows me to be free to show my artwork on the internet.  The spiritual griffin will protect my interests.  I think this griffin also represents my own spirit, watching with discerning spiritual eyes of the eagle and the strength of a lion that comes from the Lord. 

Christ-- the watcher over all--appears on the right, as the lion, as He does very often in my artwork.  Because He is not completely visible, one understands that He is shown as spiritually present at all times.  Looking more deeply and spiritually into the artwork, one can see that the woman actually represents the Church as the bride of Christ, and in this role, she practices hospitality in the world in a very meaningful and powerful way.  The local church is a watcher in the lives of its members, serving them as God's own family.  The universal church of Christ is also a watcher in the world.  She has the responsibility of holding forth the truths of God, meeting needs through God's provision, and bringing the world's issues before His throne in prayer.   

You can take the idea of watchers as a good or bad thing, depending on your point of view.  Many people chafe at the authority of the watchers, and refuse to acknowledge them as being good.  They feel closed in, suffocated, and repressed by the watchers, whether they realize they are there or not.  They rebel.  But others, like myself, are grateful for the watchers.  There is true safety under the watchful eyes of all those who love and take responsibility for seeing God's creation and people treated with justice, righteousness, and love.  God sees everything always, and there's no getting away from it.  Freedom and joy come when we at last realize that He is the light of life.   

A few Scriptures to help you begin a Bible study on the topic of watchers:
Genesis 31:49; Judges 7:17-19; 2Kings 11:5-7; Nehemiah 4:9, 7:3, 12:25; Job 7:20, 13:27; Psalm 127:1, 139; 141:3; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 21:6; Jeremiah 18:15; Ezekiel 33: 6-7; Daniel 4:17, 12:1; Nahum 2:1; Mark 13:34-37; Romans 1:30; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:1-4; Hebrews 12:1,13:7

The background for the artwork was my own photo of a pink crystal chandelier.
Credits for licensed stock images used in this composite:
Royal beauty © Anna Minina
Castle on lake © Stefano Maccari
Bandstand © Martinturzak  
Rose © Jevgenia Petrova
Frozen lake in the alps with swans © Bas Meelker
Misty Sea © Petr Doubek
Beautiful small waterfalls © Wolfgang Amri
Griffin #01 © Ralf Kraft
Detail Romantic garden © Tamas [used to decorate the princess' dress]
Cup of tea and teapot © Galina Ermolaeva
Scottish bagpipes © Photowitch
Vintage Willow Pattern Background © Kathleen Good
Male Lion © Eric Gevaert
Couple jumping © Edyta Pawlowska
Chickadee 7 © Bruce Macqueen 
Peacefull hawaii beach © Csaba Fikker
http://www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-photo-peacefull-hawaii-beach-rimagefree1749389-resi122770
All stock images licensed from Dreamstime.com

"The Watchers" is by Karen Gladys Henry.
© 2010 All Rights Reserved.
For permission to use in any way besides a personal desktop or reblogging with link, please email me at ArteZoe@gmail.com

You Set A Table Before Me

Although this image may look mysterious, there is nothing deliberately hidden or cryptic about it.  It's a very straight-forward illustration of part of Psalm 23:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23: 5

This artwork refers to the first and last parts of the verse, only alluding to the oil with the branch of olives (and again, the olive leaves, if you read the last blog).  The table is the focal point.  On it are items that would be sustaining if in the natural, and although the Lord does provide us with our earthly sustanence, it is spiritual reality that I am illustrating. 

As I mentioned, there is an olive branch, which here represents healing and anointing. (We often think of the olive branch as representing peace, from the dove in Genesis, after the flood, but it was a leaf it carried, not a branch-- still we can also add the meaning of "peace with God, because of His covenant"-- which makes a theme in this picture, God's New Covenant with us).  There are grapes, which are "the fruit of the vine" from which wine is made-- so this can represent the wine of communion-- the blood of Christ-- and the fruit of the Spirit as well.  The bottle is a wine bottle, so that is redundant in a way.  I would take this to mean that the grapes represent the fruit of the Spirit more specifically. 

The bread is "the bread of life" which Jesus called Himself (John 6: 33, 35, 48, 51-- look these up for a really great Bible study).  However, notice that the bread is challah, a Jewish bread, but that it is not unleavened.  Jesus would have been serving unleavened bread at the "Last Supper," because He and his disciples were celebrating the Passover.  All though the communion table is somewhat referenced in this artwork, I think that the table I'm referring to here is really a more "every day" sort of table.  Truly, what is being served here is the Life of Christ in the middle of ordinary life. 

Lastly, there is cheese, which I chose to artistically represent the "milk of the Word", the "solid food", and if you'll allow me a little artistic license "the meat of the Word" as well (honestly, I didn't want to look at a leg of lamb sitting on the table, but I think it should be there spiritually speaking--the foibles of an artist!  Maybe I'll have to go back and add it after all-- but then, I'd have to put a bottle of milk there too!)  The cup on the table, which I decorated up with some designs and a cross, obviously symbolic, could be the "cup of salvation," -- it is there to hold whatever is being drunk, either the wine, or the milk, or the water.  It also represents the body and the soul.

That brings me to the large goblet behind the table, translucent to represent "unseen," spiritual reality.  It represents Christ and His presence, full of the water of life.  His presence is there, even if "unseen," officiating at the table, serving as He does, and ministering with His constant overflow.  In a way, it also represents the Christian, who, when he is in Christ and Christ is in him, truly can say "my cup overflows."  Here we are in the wilderness, and all we really need is the Cup, because everything on the table is actually a product of His overflow. 

We could also relate to Jesus praying, "let this cup pass from me, if it be thy will." (Matthew 26:39)  In the situation, or experience, of this picture, we may also be praying the same thing.  Our answer seems to be, "no, you have to go through this, but I will be with you."  And Jesus, having gone before us, has been the victor.  It is because He accepted the cup that was given Him that we are saved and delivered.

When I say the table is the focal point, I would have to say that it was  to me, when I thought of making this image.  And yet, the subject of the artwork is truly the "You" in the title, and the awesome power and presence of the Lord.  It's hard to miss the lightning, and when I first chose to put that in, it made me wonder if the viewer might take it as God was one of the enemies.  I'd say to that, "only if you are an enemy of God," and of course, that is your choice. 

For me, and any other child of God, the incredible power packed into that lightning bolt is a cause for fear and trembling, but it's not aimed at us!  If it's wrath against sin, Christ absorbed it, and He can take it.  I'd say, the enemies around better take warning, for that is just a tiny bit of a display of God's power.  This shows how much we don't have to fear any amount of display of so-called power by any enemy, demonic or otherwise.  We have God on our side, if indeed we are on His.

This image is a rather dark one, for the simple fact is that we live in a darkened world.  Sometimes our enemy is only the darkness of our own mind and the blind state we might find ourselves in.  In that case, the light of the gospel is shining, and it will overcome the darkness if we don't run away.  The lamp on the bottom left is representative of  Spirit and Truth, and it's not plugged in to any natural source!  It's getting its energy from the lighting, from God's power. 

I noticed that while I was working close up into the picture, and the table and the chandelier filled the screen, or higher up where the lightning hits the cup, it is very bright.  It is only when you back off from the image that it looks dark.  This is very significant, as that's how it is with our walk in Christ.  If we back off from Him, our experience becomes very dark and frightening.  We start looking at the darkness in the world and at the enemies, and we feel threatened.  Instead, we should get closer to God, and His light then fills our mind and changes our experience.  Suddenly, the enemies are of no consequence.

There is only one active enemy visible in the picture, and that is the snake (an emerald tree boa), which represents Satan, the accuser.  He is hiding in the shadows, waiting for a chance to devour.  But the only chance he has is for us to stand still and give him permission and access into our minds.  He constricts by telling lies, which we don't have to listen to or believe.  Basically, he has no power over us except to tempt or confuse, and if we're focused on Christ and His Word, he is easily overcome.  And if you look carefully, a tip of lightening is touching him, as if the finger of God were reminding Satan of his doom.  For the truth is, Jesus already overcame the devil.  Thinking of this reminds me of Jesus in the wilderness after He was baptized.  The Spirit led Him there to be tempted of the devil.  He overcame Satan with the Word of God!  That is the same thing we are to do when we find ourself in that situation, say "It is written":

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:1-4 NKJV
 
When Jesus came out from the wilderness, he began his ministry in power.
 

I chose the background picture of the stones in an ancient celtic circle to represent other spiritual forces, either demonic or human, that are not submitted to God but are not directly trying to attack the viewer.  I am not thoroughly familiar with the meaning and usages of these stone circles, except to know they were part of pagan worship.  I do know that they are still held as sacred by some people, and are popular imagery these days in spiritualistic or occult belief systems.  The demonic spirits behind this type of worship are territorial.  They don't mess with me, but I have become an enemy to them, and have aggressively camped on what they call their ground.  The people's minds who are held captive to false religions are what is being fought for.  This is the ground, the territory where the battle is.  My purpose is to call these people out of darkness and into God's glorious light. 

There are so many people who are interested, on a fascination level, with anything spiritual.  For some, it's an escape.  But people are really looking for answers these days, and are looking to spiritual things.  I think some people are more drawn to light than others, and if they will come near the light, that is good.  Maybe they will accept the true Light and be saved.  But how many realize that just because something is spiritual doesn't mean it's good, even though it might look it?  That snake looks very pretty sometimes (he can appear as an "angel of light"  2 Cor 11:14 ) and can sound very pleasing, but if you put up with him, he's deadly.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.  For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15, 20 NKJV)

This artwork shows a battlefield-- a very personal one for me.  Having been saved from the occult myself, by Christ Jesus, I can only do what is right and try to shine His light out into the world, perhaps to draw others to Him, who is the only  way to God.  I am aware of the danger of battling for a mountain that Satan holds at present.  I know I am not beyond temptation or deception.  As I step out of my "cave" where I feel safe from the world, I take the risk of being stumbled by something in it.  And yet I can do no good by hiding my light.  Therefore, I must partake of the feast of the Lord "in the presence of my enemies," since now they know where I am.  And though I am not afraid of them, they do try to hinder me.  I thank the Lord for His constant presence and protection, and that He will defend me as I remain in Him.

The images I used for this composite were licensed from Dreamstime.com
Castlerigg stone circle © Boguslaw Kupisinski
Round Antique Table 3d © Vadim Andrushchenko
Old goblet © Ole Jakob Ihlebæk 
Ornate Table Lamp Chandelier © Margojh
Red grapes isolated © Cs333 
Emerald Tree Boa © Eric Isselée
Challah bread isolated on white © Kgfoto
Wicker Bottle © Fabrizio Troiani 
Olive II © Pjgon71 
Cheese isolated on white © Yana Gulyanovska 
Grunge texture © Draganea 
Tattered Scroll Collection © Cajoer 
The beginning of the tornado © Victor Zastol`skiy
Sheep with lamb © John Butterfield
Celtic flower design © Patrick Guenette
Fencing © Galina Afanasyeva

The Kingdom of Peace

This work began as a study for a painting I had promised a friend, quite some time ago.  I have since decided that trying to paint detailed and surreal images like this would take more time than I have, so I've concluded that my digital composite art will have to do.  I am happy with this mode of expression now~ I have made my peace with it!

Her request was for a "lion and lamb" picture, and I know she likes gardens, so I began to create a spiritual garden mostly from photos of my own of the Cummer in Jacksonville.  The olive tree, of course, doesn't grow there in the natural world.  But I was envisioning a mountaintop garden, and since Jesus often prayed and rested with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, I thought it was fitting.  It represents here the Tree of Life.  I was concerned at first that it didn't seem to have olives on it, and I was going to try to clone them in, but I decided it wasn't necessary, as "the leaves are for the healing of the nations."

 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelations 22:2 

Now this picture doesn't match up with the Biblical description here, but then there's at least one in Genesis that's different.  What I'm thinking is that wherever Jesus is, there's the Tree of Life, since He is the Life.  I don't have clear revelation on "twelve fruits," so I am going to leave that alone right now.  I figure that He can bear fruit in His season, and that is His doing not mine.   I do know that in the natural world, olive leaf is a useful herb that promotes health and healing, and I occasionally use it myself if I'm fighting an infection!  Olive oil is also one of those really healthy things, and it stands for anointing in Scripture.  Sometimes I can't put every detail into a piece that there possibly could be, so we have to see the possibilities for understanding even in that which is "unspoken" but can be "read between the lines."

The main subject is Christ, and the Lion and the Lamb both represent Him:

But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." Revelation 5:5

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"  John 1:29

"for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17

In this picture, the lion and lamb are actually sitting on a rock that is in the middle of a stream!  That may seem uncomfortable, but this is a spiritual representation.  It's the river of God, which "proceeds from the throne of God"

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1

Since this is a symbolic representation of the Kingdom of God, we will assume the throne of God is present but unseen as is God Himself.  The rule of God is visible however, in its effects.  Here, one of the effects is peace.  Remember that one of the premises I go on in my artistic representations of spiritual things is this:

nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21

So, if the Kingdom is in you by the indwelling Christ (shown by the dove who symbolizes the Holy Spirit), then the outcome would be peace.  This of course is a process, but we should be having an increase of peace as the rule of Christ in our life increases:

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  Isaiah 9:7

As much holy zeal as the Lord has, He is always at peace, which is why I have chosen to show the lion and lamb lying down.  He expects us to rest in Him as well, and be at peace.  He is the Prince of Peace!  There is no reason, no valid excuse really, to live in worry, stress and doubt if He is our King and Shepherd.  And what better Shepherd to have than one who knows what it's like to be a sheep?!  He knows how easy it is for us to fret and have care that takes away our health and well-being.  He knows our natural world does not often look like this artwork.  It often looks like devastation, as in Haiti.  However, for the Christian, even living in terrible circumstances and with incredible suffering does not have to steal our peace from us.  Indeed, we should endeavor to enter into His peace and rest, which will shelter us in times of difficulty. 

Hbr 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. . . Hbr 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. . . Hbr 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. . . Hbr 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4  [I suggest reading the whole chapter, and also Psalm 91].

Jesus words about the end times were about tribulation of all types, so we should not be dismayed at the happenings in the world. 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

We are to expect trials, tribulations, and persecutions, but we have the Spirit if we belong to Christ, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is peace.  Tribulation also works to train our character and bring us into line with Christ's character, of which patient endurance is certainly part.  (Galatians 5:22;  Romans 5:3)  Small trials throughout our life help make us stronger and more able to deal with large problems later.  But if we do have to deal with something for which we are not ready, then His grace is sufficient:

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I have had plenty of opportunities in my life to test the validity of this Scripture, and I testify that is it indeed true!  And yet, sometimes I worry that something will happen in life, some big disaster or something, that I won't be able to handle.  Then the Lord gently reminds me of how His grace carried me through things I thought would certainly destroy me, or at least my mental stability.

No matter what, we have the hope of Christ's return in glory to rule on the earth!  I am looking for that, praying that it will be soon.  When we think of the "millenial reign" we probably first think of peace!  I love the word picture that Isaiah "painted" about that:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6 

We often get these words confused with the "lion and lamb" concept, but I think these pictures fit together, so I took advantage of the fact that seeing a lion and lamb lying down together would evoke a concept of the millenial reign as well.  We often don't think of the fact that as we mature, our picture of Christ matures as well.  We may know Him as the Lamb at first (He is easier to handle that way), and then the Lion of Judah later (which I see as a more warlike representation, one that has already defeated Satan).  Eventually we will be comfortable knowing Him as both the Lion and the Lamb together, understanding that He will manifest whatever facet of Himself that is necessary for the time.

These things were all in me as I "painted" but I received a "hidden manna" from it as I meditated on the picture and prayed for more understanding.  I saw it while I was listening to a Brenda Craig teaching on the Word.  Suddenly I saw that the garden here is divided into three parts.  I knew this when I did it but I didn't see what it really showed.  It is all about how we pursue (seek after) the Lord. 

This is what I saw:  on the left, He leads us into green pastures, a place of quiet and rest.  He does all the work, we just lean on Him and soak in His presence.  In the middle, there seems to be no way in, just something you can look into but not walk to.  The Lord showed me that there are two ways to go deeper, dive in or fly in!  This is spiritual, and it's takes seeking the Lord to understand.  But it takes a leap of faith and giving up your own control.  The third way of pursuing the Lord is climbing.  As on the right hand side of the picture, one has to climb up some steep stairs to venture out into more of who He is.  You might get to a mountain top and have a revelation of God.  You might go down into a valley then to serve, and discover more of His character and have it worked into you.  It's about action,  testing, and experience.  But it all takes us to a higher level with Him.  Each of these three modes requires faith, hope and love-- along with obedience and perseverance.  But they will all three lead to more intimacy with Christ and knowing God more.

I haven't explained the statue (from Middleton Place in South Carolina).  What do you think it means?  Comments?

Credit for images licensed  for use in this composite:
Grand old olive tree  © Manicblue
Hills & Swiss Alps © Ken Brown
Rotunda in Crimea  © Vladyslav Surnin  
Lamb © Mikael Damkier
Male Lion © Eric Gevaert
Beautiful stone urn with flowers © Douglas Freer
White Dove in Flight 6 © Christopher Ewing
Dreamstime.com

"The Kingdom of Peace" is a composite artwork by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All rights reserved. For permission to use this image in any way other than copying to your computer as wallpaper, please email me at ArteZoe@gmail.com Thank you.

“Guided Safely Home”: A Visual Tribute to Dr. Eldon DeWitt

The basis of this composite is the same as the one below titled "Deliver Us From Evil".  It is eerie to me now that I made the other one.  I had been working on this artwork for my pastor and dear friend, Eldon DeWitt, for a long time.  On September 19th, I took the rough draft I was working on for him, which I was planning to give him for his birthday on November 10th, and made the darker composite for Pirate Day (which always seems to bring out in me a strong desire to witness for the Lord).  It seemed the Lord was helping me, as the daunting task of blending many images went very quickly.  I was almost finished with Eldon's composite, and I was very excited about that!  I didn't want to spoil his surprise though, so I didn't share the intermediate version with him.  When he died of a heart attack on September 24th, completely unexpectedly, as he was very healthy, including his heart,  I almost threw out the entire thing.  I'm glad I didn't, as now it speaks of his heavenly homecoming!  Death and evil have been defeated by Jesus Christ, as Eldon well knows.

I have written a more personal essay concerning this picture and how Eldon inspired it and helped me in my spiritual and artistic development.  You may read it on my Facebook wall: here is a link to it.  In this blog, I will make brief references to the symbolic meanings of this piece.

Really, this artwork has a double-entendre, as it is just as applicable for a person living on this Earth as it is for a person whose spirit has left his bodily dwelling and has gone to his heavenly home.   We call that death, but when we are born-again children of God, not only do we have hope of eternal life in heaven with God, but we also have the hope of receiving a new, heavenly body-- free from pain and sickness, and with capabilities we only have glimpsed.   The temporary separation of physical death is extremely difficult, as Eldon's friends and family will testify, but it cannot be compared with the eternal agony of separation from God that those who do not accept Christ will experience.  That truly is grief not to be faced.  Today is the day of salvation, and Jesus has His arms open wide to receive those who will come, offering us Life instead of the Second Death, and so much more. . .

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. "

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 NKJV

That leads me to the temporal meaning of a ship (representing someone's life) being led into a dangerous and rocky cove by the light of a lighthouse:  the Spirit of God is faithfully drawing men, women and children into the safety of His realm.  Whether we have strayed away from Him, drifting on the seas of circumstance, or whether we are still waiting to be found, He is calling His people home.  His covenant is so great that I cannot begin to go into it here, but forgiveness and cleansing from sin, healing of emotional wounds and physical disease, everlasting love, acceptance and belonging in His holy family, and His nature imparted and trained into us through His Word and the help of His servants: all these are there for us, and much, much more.

Since this artwork was done specifically for my friend, his unique interests are included.  The eagle was a special symbol to him, and though I'm not completely sure what it meant to him, I can guess that it had partly to do with soaring into the heavenly realm by the Spirit, and receiving a prophetic message from the Lord to give to His people.  So this eagle represents Eldon himself, who so loved the Word and the presence of God.  He always had a revelation of truth from God to give us, represented by the scroll.  That reminds me of the scrolls in Scripture:

And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. Ezekiel 3:3

Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings." Revelation 10:10-11

The burning bush, as I talked about in the previous blog, represents the manifest presence of God, such as how Moses saw the glory of the Lord and heard the call of God.  This burning bush sign not only represents a level of presence of God that Eldon always pursued, but it also symbolizes the people of God when they are "on fire" with the Spirit and Truth of God in their lives.  Eldon was certainly a "burning bush" while he was here with us.  He always said that trees represented knowledge or people.  Here it can represent both, a greater knowledge of God and a greater presence of God in our own being.

I left the treasure in this version of the artwork.  Its meaning is different however, for Eldon had truly left behind all pursuit of earthly wealth, and completely trusted God's provision for his needs.  Eldon's treasure was the things of God.  He treasured every word God spoke to him, whether through study of the written word or revelations he received through dreams or any other means.  He was never a "hireling", meaning: he didn't serve in the ministry for gain, but because he knew the call of God on his life, feared the Lord and obeyed Him, and had the Father's heart for the healing and restoration of people, he treasured the people of God and the gifts that were placed in them.  He constantly worked in the Kingdom, with very little earthly reward.  Therefore, this treasure also represents "gold tried by fire", the heavenly riches he sought for and imparted, and the heavenly reward he will receive as the Father says, "Well done, good and faithful servant". (Matthew 25:23)

Credits: these are additional credits to the ones listed in "Deliver Us From Evil":

Eagles on the beach © Jim Dubois

Sunset At Orre Beach, Norway © Harald Tjøstheim
Manuscript with flowers 2 © Alexmax
Images from Dreamstime.com
 
"Guided Safely Home" is a composite artwork by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009.  All rights reserved.  For permission to use this image in any way other than copying to your computer as wallpaper, please email me at ArteZoe@gmail.com  Thank you.

Deliver Us From Evil

This composite is quite simple in meaning, so I won't have to write much here.  Obviously this depicts danger and the need for guidance, protection and deliverance from evil, as the title says.

The waves and the rocks are one easy-to-find danger: there are many difficulties and obstacles to overcome in our lives (a ship represents a person's life, and/or ministry), including natural disasters that happen at an increasing pace.  The lighthouse is shining, which is the Truth of the Gospel (and thus, the Church, who has the Truth in her).  We do not have to fear, for He is with us always:

". . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."  Matthew 28:20

This does make it clear that He expects us to hear and obey His commands. 

Jesus instructed us to pray for deliverance from evil in what we call "The Lord's Prayer" (which is really His example for us to pray):

"And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."  Matthew 6:13

Some translations say simply "evil" rather than "the evil one".  One reference stated that the presence of a certain article makes it clear it is being specific about "the evil one" rather than simply "evil".  If we know what Jesus accomplished by His life, death and resurrection, we realize that Satan is already defeated, and that Jesus gave us an example of how to resist the enemy:  "it is written".  I don't intend to go into depth on that today, as it is a topic clearly seen in Scripture and much written about. I exhort you to study it out yourself if you feel that Satan is constantly defeating you.  Jesus won the victory over Satan and over all evil.  He made you to be "more than a conqueror"!

In the artwork, there are some gold coins in the corner.  This is a representation of this truth:

"For the love of money is a root of all [kinds of] evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. "  I Timothy 1:10

Notice that "kinds of" is in brackets, meaning that these words are not in the original: therefore it says "a root of all evil".  I didn't write it!  Is is so hard to think that any evil you see can somehow be coming out of a root of the "love of money"?  In the picture, somebody buried some treasure, and someone apparently died over it!  In a "parable" sort of way, pirates are the epitome of the "love of money."  Don't we all have greed, selfishness and whatever else that is unholy and unworthy inside of us, until we allow the Holy Spirit and the Word to rout it out of us.  The danger depicted in this artwork is not only physical danger, danger from a marauding enemy, danger from the temptations of this age, but also the evil that lurks in the depths of our own hearts (God calls it "iniquity").  Thank God Jesus paid for this as well, forgives us and cleanses us. 

Another part of "The Lord's Prayer" is relevant to this:

And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us." Luke 11:4

Taken very literally, we see we must forgive "those who are indebted to us".  If we're greedy, we won't even forgive someone a monetary debt.  But there is pride and other things that keep us from releasing others from whatever debt they may have incurred, for example, even a small thing such as "hurting our feelings".  So I see unforgiveness as a definite danger we need to be delivered from.

I could go on and on, but I'll try to stay close to the picture.  The last symbolic reference I see here is the burning bush, representing God's manifest presence, as Moses saw it:

So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."  Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.  So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites."  Exodus 3:3- 8

Moses had a fear of the Lord, which enabled him to obey Him and deliver the Israelites from their land of captivity.  Moses is a "type" of Christ, showing in a real-life parable everything that Jesus would do for us, including delivering us from evil and leading us to His Kingdom flowing with milk and honey.

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."  Galatians 1:3-5

Without a proper fear of the Lord (not a "phobia" that keeps us away from Him), we do not listen for His voice, follow His lead, or enter in by faith into the promises.  I, for one, want to submit to Him so that I can not only watch the devil flee from me, but be freed from the iniquity that leaves me open to temptation.  I want to overcome all the obstacles of this present age and enter safely into my King's presence.

If you see anything else in this artwork, I'd love for you to leave a comment and share it with me.

Here are the credits for the individual licensed images I used:

Treasure Beach Tree © Greg Payan | Dreamstime.com

Flames and brush © Peter Armstrong | Dreamstime.com

Carved Skull © Claire Collier | Dreamstime.com

Unfolded book dark smudged paper © Alexmax | Dreamstime.com

Surf & Clouds 3 © Joe Gough | Dreamstime.com

Seagull on the beach © Eric Gevaert | Dreamstime.com

Treasure! © Kristin Speed | Dreamstime.com

Bass Harbor Head © David Davis | Dreamstime.com

Rugged Coast of Pt Lobos © Ron Kacmarcik | Dreamstime.com

Atlantic Ocean coast © Anton Gvozdikov | Dreamstime.com

Hermit Crab 4 © Jose Gil | Dreamstime.com

Lighthouse No.2 © Npage | Dreamstime.com

Dreamy Sunrise on Tropical Beach © Heico Neumeyer | Dreamstime.com

Green waves I. © Erik Van Den Elsen | Dreamstime.com

Three-Masted Schooner On York River in Virginia © Kcastagnola | Dreamstime.com

This blog and artwork is by Karen Gladys Henry, Copyright 2009, All rights reserved.  For permission to use please email me at ArteZoe@gmail.com   Thank you.
This work is available for purchase at Imagekind.com, See my gallery.

Entrance

I started this composite last year, I think, and once I got the images pieced together, it was mind-bogglingly tedious work getting it all blended. I am now glad that my work on it was temporarily suspended as I gathered my resolve to finish it. Right after I did, my pastor began teaching on some things that gave me more insight into this image.

As I had already chosen to call it "Entrance", I had realized I was depicting an entrance into the Kingdom of God. The circular doorway represents eternity. The woman standing there is symbolic of the Church of believers, and the lion on the top left stands for Christ, the Lion of Judah. To me it seems the woman is curtsying to Him, or greeting Him in a loving and worshipful manner. She has on a veil, since she is His Bride, but she is not dressed in white linen yet, as the works she is to do are empowered from the Kingdom, which she has not yet entered.

On this side of the wall, we see a rather watery garden, representing the Earth. At this point, the woman is still facing the Earth, or her earthly life. There are three "waters" here: the sea (humanity), the fountain which is old and toppling over into the sea (religion), and the stream of Life, which is flowing out from the Kingdom. The Tree has roots going down into the sea, showing that Jesus has roots in the Earth because He was the Son of Man. But the Tree is on top of the wall, and if we use our imaginations we can see there are roots going down the other side of the wall into the heavenly Kingdom, because Jesus is also the Son of God. The stream represents "the Way", which is full of difficulties, but leads straight to the Kingdom. The stream also is Jesus, as He is the Way. He is also the Entrance.* Above the circular door are the Greek letters alpha and omega, which represent the beginning and the end, and this is a name used for Jesus in the Bible. Jesus, the King, is overseeing the earthly garden as well as the heavenly Kingdom and the gateway into it. He glows with His own light.

On the other side of the entrance, we see a vista of glowing mountains, clouds and heavenly lights representing a spiritual and perfect realm we've rarely or never seen with our eyes. There is a sunrise/sunset because the sun is setting on one era and rising on another. There is outer space and galaxies because the Kingdom is much greater than anything we can grasp or imagine. It encompasses all of creation. The huge mountain represents the Kingdom of God as is depicted in Daniel's dream: a mountain that is covering the whole world (Daniel 2:35,44). Until the Bride enters the Kingdom, the government of God does not cover the earth. But when she submits to her Lord, she becomes part of the Entrance, and the Kingdom of God will enter the earthly garden through her, creating the situation needed for the King to return to Earth in person.

Although the earthly garden reflects some of the heavenly realm, and one can see some of it if one lifts the eyes upward or gets close to the Entrance, it is still difficult to see from the vantage point shown in this artwork. This is where my pastor's teaching offers some insight.

He began with this scripture, where Jesus says:

"If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" John 3:12

At church, we discussed how the earthly things were those things revealed by scripture, especially things Jesus said and did, that pertain to life here. This includes repentance and forgiveness, all kinds of healing and deliverance, and learning how to walk in Spirit and Truth. Most scripture has to do with earthly things, things we need now. Since Jesus is the door into Life, and the Way to God, we must accept Him as Savior in order to see the Kingdom.*

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

After we've followed Him for a while we begin to see what the Kingdom of God is all about. We start out thinking it's just about after we die we get to go to heaven. But as we mature, we realize there is much more, and that it is for now as well as later.

". . . as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3-11 NKJV

Notice that he says that if we lack these things we are shortsighted, or blind, meaning that we can't see the Kingdom! But if we are diligent about obtaining them, we will be supplied an entrance into that Kingdom.

After Jesus' initial statement to Nicodemus about being born again, he said something else:

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' John 3:5-7

Nicodemus didn't get it, and this is where Jesus said "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" Being born again is an earthly thing! How do we get born again? By believing the Word and receiving it/Him. The Word is Truth and Jesus is Truth. First our minds our renewed by hearing the Word; we begin to change and grow by acting on it in faith. But we also need to receive it into our hearts: this is being born again in the Spirit. The Word grows in our hearts until He is all in all~ of full stature. This is when we gain an entrance into the Kingdom. But first we must see it, or we won't keep on the difficult Way to Life.

Jesus' prayer to the Father, before he was crucified and resurrected, was that we would be one with Him, the Father, and one another (John 17). This is accomplished in the Spirit as we lay down the things that hinder us and we allow God to rule us. We are "seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 1:20), but we have to learn to walk in that reality. He has already purchased it for us, and He is in us and we are in Him if we are born again. But how many of us participate in that? It is His desire that we not only see the Kingdom from afar and hope to enter it after we die, but that we see it as right near us, that we press on to enter it, and that we regularly take what we gain there and demonstrate it in the earthly realm. This is my spiritual quest.

'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:14- 22 NKJV

Flowers:
In Victorian lore, as far as I can find, wisteria represents "youth and poetry". If I take it in a spiritual sense, to me it represents humility, teachability and prophetic revelation. It also has an appearance like grapes, so it also says fruitfulness to me. And I have to say, it partly just needed to be there as a visual balance. The irises are quite significant, I found out after I put them there. It's not a biblical meaning, but a traditional, Victorian one (I think the Lord can still use our understood languages as a means of communication). It means "I have a message for you", and also stands for faith, wisdom, promise in love, hope and valor. All these are found in the 2 Peter passage.

I hope this stirs you to pursue what has been offered us through Christ. I am seeking to see much more of the Kingdom, so that I can help others enter in.


*To the sides of this picture there are two other openings in the wall. These are not "other ways to God". The fact is that God is a triune being, and He's the only door into His own Kingdom. The reality that Jesus is the Way to Life and God is not my idea: it is not a product of personal prejudice or intolerance. It's God's own statement: He chose to give Christ "all authority in heaven and on earth". If it were up to me, I'd make it easy. But it's not up to me. If you don't believe my testimony and that of the Bible, then ask God to show you the truth of it, and if you really want to know, He will show you. Then you'll know I'm not making it up. You can have an internal witness that is unassailable.

Credits for this artwork:

Many images went into making this~ my thanks to all the photographers:
http://www.dreamstime.com/cascading-mountain-stream-rimage5820508-resi122770
http://www.dreamstime.com/circular-port-in-chinese-garden-rimage4432113-resi122770http://www.dreamstime.com/himalayan-mountain-rimage4791266-resi122770http://www.dreamstime.com/italian-renaissance-dress-rimage3246760-resi122770www.dreamstime.com/roots-rimage632696-resi122770www.dreamstime.com/water-fountain-rimage120017-resi122770www.dreamstime.com/lion-rimage2097236-resi122770http://www.dreamstime.com/purple-flowers-wisteria-rimage705712-resi122770http://www.dreamstime.com/rocks-rapids-along-a-stream-rimage2393809-resi122770www.dreamstime.com/the-old-barn-rimage5454492-resi122770 [irises]
[tree image no longer available]
My own sunset and ocean photos were used, along with a public domain space photo. The image inside the circular entrance is also a composite of my own photos.

Renaissance

I made this collage with the true Easter message in mind, that is, the Resurrection of Christ. But it goes beyond just a celebration of the event, which boggles the mind if one really thinks about it! Jesus Christ rose from the dead!! This picture has a lot to do with what that means for us. I'll try to go in a straight line in describing this, but the image is easier to do than the description! "Renaissance" refers to rebirth, new life and vitality, and in the historical context and application, a great revival of all creativity, knowledge and industrious pursuit that comes from being tapped in to the life of God.

The "headless" mannequin represents the individual Christian, and also the Body of Christ. He is the Head and we are members of His Body. This is not just a metaphor~ it is a reality! Unless we get a handle on this concept and begin to live it, we will not be able to appropriate (grasp, receive, put into practice, get the benefit of) what Christ did for us. When He died, He set the "will and testament" in motion, meaning we can now receive our inheritance as the children of God and joint heirs with Christ. When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered death, and is now alive forever to see to it that we come into the full oneness with God that was intended. Without submission to God and His will, we are not allowing the Head to rule in our life, and truly we are cut off from the source of life that is in us.

Too many Christians quote the verse "we have the mind of Christ" and don't seek to actually have it. We're not born with it!! Surely we have a new nature in our born-again spirits, with the capacity for spiritual understanding and growth. But it is not a given that we will grow and mature, or that we will gain all that we have a potential for. We must pursue it, according to the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit. His mind, more expansive and full of all wisdom and knowledge beyond what we can comprehend or imagine, is available to us at all times. But we must undergo a transformation! Our carnal mind(which is earthly, sinful and dark, and focused on death and lies) must be changed and renewed in order to understand and act upon the truth and light that is in the mind of God. Jesus made a way for us, but we must give up our old ways of thinking. Our belief systems are grungy, don't function properly, and lead us down all the wrong paths. The Scriptures are alive and active to restore the functions of our minds, and emotions as well. This enables our bodies to work properly also. The more our minds are changed from the old dead nature to the new, the more of a "renaissance" we will experience. This is true revival, not just church meetings.

In this image, you can see an iconic picturization* of Jesus carrying the cross. The mannequin has got its arm through it, signifying that we must embrace the cross. This means saying (and meaning) the same as Jesus did in Gethsemane, "not my will but thine be done." This place of submission to the Father's will gets us out of a place of religion and into true relationship. Jesus sought to know the Father's will, and when He knew it, He obeyed it. If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.

The Lamb is the symbol of Christ in the place of sacrifice for our sins. The fact that He calls us His lamb and His sheep, indicates that we are meant to identify with Him: but substituting Himself for us, we are spared the eternal punishment we deserved and by accepting the resurrection, we accept the exchange of our old life for His new one. Thus, with the verse that was "cut and pasted" into the collage, we recognize that we suffer the loss of the old, that which was death to us, but we rejoice because the end is in sight: abundant life now and life with God eternally.

The communion chalice is included: it is beautiful and entwined with vines, because He is the Vine from whom we draw our life. His blood, represented by the wine, was shed so that we could be made holy. There are three spheres in the artwork, showing that redemption is for us in three parts of our being: the spirit, the soul and the body. It also means we must overcome in three arenas: the world, the flesh and the devil. One is being dipped into the cup, a picture of the "host" of the Eucharist: because His body was broken, then resurrected, our body can be healed, and resurrected into an incorruptible life. Jesus has gone before, and is leading the way.

I hope the explanation of this artwork helps you understand more of the covenant we have in Christ, and what it means to have His mind.

Jhn 3:7
Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

Jhn 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

1Pe 1:23
having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

1Cr 2:16
For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

"that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another." Ephesians 4:22-25

Luk 9:23
Then He said to [them] all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Mat 7:21
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Mat 26:39
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will]."

Eph 5:23
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Col 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Eph 3:19
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph 4:13
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Col 2:9
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

Rev 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Col 1:9

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

Rom 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Act 20:32
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

Col 1:12
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

A bonus message:

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror." I Peter 3: 1-6

*"picturization" is a word I coined, meaning "making a picture as a representation", (similar form as "verbalization")