A picture paints a thousand words” – Famous Quote
And God said within His heart: How can I let them know that I love them? How can I possibly communicate the depths of my thoughts to them? I created them and they deserted me; but I hold no grudge. I gave them life and a world of goodness, but they gave themselves and my creation over to the vile, wrathful, cherub who rebelled against me. Yet I hold them no malice for they knew not what they did! I offered them perfection, long life, and myself; however, they fell for the salesman’s pitch and never read the fine print. Yet, I still would give them all the goodness that I can. They grieved me, quenched me, provoked me, and tried my patience; yet I want to suffer with them a little longer. I cannot but love them, but I cannot convince them to come home. What shall I say? What words can I write to convince them? What messenger can I send that they will believe?
And God sat in silence to decide His action. Then the idea, the logos, struck! Then the plan took shape in His heart. And He could not but begin to create the picture. He knew exactly what it would take; and He knew exactly what the Image must look like. Words were not enough! He had to SHOW his creation how He felt, what thoughts He had in His inner heart. It had to be expressed clearly and in graphic detail! Words were too limiting. He would have a SON!
And what a glorious son he would be! He would be like His first son, yet never fall away. He would be a perfect son, who loved Him with all his heart. He would be a good son, who could stand tall in the face of all that was thrown at him. He would be a son who could demonstrate what the response to His enemy should have been. And he would be a son willing to lay himself down in death in order to show that NO ONE ELSE HAD TO DIE!
He would begin the scene with POWER AND GLORY – to show the world His own heart toward man. He would then paint the scene with blood, and death; darkness and earthquake; and let His son show forth the best attributes any soul could show. And He would end the scene with BEAUTY FOR ASHES, resurrection for agony, and glorious rule by His side; to show that the way home was open to all who followed in His son’s footsteps! And what God conceived – WAS!
When you look at the cross, what do you see? Do you truly SEE the picture? And when you read HIS STORY (history) are they merely words on a page? Or the moving, heart-churning pageant they are supposed to be? In this case, watching reruns only makes the picture BETTER!
Original Copyright: © Anthony J. Massotti Th.M., Th.M. 3/14/1999