(John 15:1)
Seeing God as The Gardener began around the new year. I was listening to a song by Gungor called Beautiful Things and I felt strongly that God was speaking to me through it. At the time I had been working on a series of paintings about The Potter and the words of the song reminded me of these paintings as the potter takes dust (clay) and makes beautiful things with it. My thoughts developed as time went on and as I read various scriptures. This is how I was first properly introduced to God as The Gardener. |
(Genesis 3:17-19)
What started out as beautiful and perfect begins to look a little hopeless. With all the sacrifices and work strict rules of the priests it begins to look like there is more effort on creations part than God's part to maintain the relationship. When man fell and the thorns grew, did it become too hard for God? Did The Gardener give up? I would say the answer is quite the opposite and this brings us to the next point: The Gardener Redeems.
(John 10:10)
(John 14:6)
He came to Earth and he gave his life for us. In dying he removed the stain of sin from us, he uprooted it from our lives. He defeated death and he broke the power of sin that had a hold over us. It wasn't an easy job, it cost him everything. Yet despite this he submitted to God's will and completed the work set out before him.