The story of the Paint Brush is a tale that challenged the very understanding and even existence of God’s love in our lives, as well as of all humanity. My wife and I are seasoned Christians. We may not have the most robust flavor, however our passion, commitment, and experience with God has given us a unique flavor and identity. Despite our Christian longevity, I personally was faced with a moment of spiritual crisis. In one short moment in an otherwise normal everyday afternoon experienced by a missionary my faith took an incredible pounding of doubt and disbelieve. However, I was not left alone or forsaken during this attack. God was hand in hand with me as I began to question the expression and reality of His very love. 1 John 4:8 makes it clear that God is love. However, on this particular day, in one crucial moment His love was almost impossible for me to see or experience. It was as if I was standing in one place and time, and His love had sailed to find a new port as does a ship who braves the unpredictable sea.
The moment in time I speak of was at a boys housing facility. This facility held boys ranging from 6-18 years old. On this day I found myself serving arm and arm with the Crossroads Discipleship Training School of 2014. I can only describe these obedient followers of Christ as an eclectic and passionate group of people who are desperate for the Lord.
On this particular Saturday our entire class united together to serve this boys facility. Up to this point we lived and worshiped communally, but served separately. This was a great day in which the nurses of our team rallied their well-trained skills to provide health care for the roughly 100 boys housed in this prison type environment. While others used their passions for art to love on, encourage, and care for those boys who shared a similar passion - the remaining of us spent the day laying the foundational work needed in order to bring life to an otherwise lifeless hospital ward. Our goal was to clean, paint, and refurbish this dreary place. We wanted to provide a place that was warm and friendly rather than cold and lonely, so healing could come to those boys who suffered the health challenges of an overwhelmingly difficult environment.
On this day I found myself splitting my time between jump roping with the boys and working in the hospital ward. The time I spent in the hospital ward that day was filled with cleaning, painting, praying, and singing. As I played with the boys and worked in the ward I began to be overwhelmed with the thoughts of their life as I observed them.
From my observation there was limited staff due to what I assume to be a limited budget. Boys were running around like prairie dogs – full of spirit and mischief. I quickly learned as I spoke with the nurses that there was a great deal of sexual activity amongst the boys. I partnered this knowledge with my observation that day of a young man roughly the age of 13-15 years old walking out from around the corner of a building with two boys ranging between 6-8 years old. Given the situation, as well as witnessing the behavior of the older boy after the fact, it was clear that something took place that did not guard the ideals of purity. As I was processing this information, in addition to thinking of the lack of care and safety provided for the boys generally speaking, I began thinking of my children. At this point a great deal of heart ache and grief began to overwhelm me similar to that of the waves of the Indian Ocean beginning to engulf the beach during the incoming tide. My thoughts began to spin out of control as my heart began to fill with sorrow for each of the boys. The thoughts of my children’s lives being surrendered to this life exponentially increased my distress. At this moment I began to question the existence of God’s love.
The moment I began to question the existence of God’s love I found myself slathering paint across a crumbling wall. I was not questioning the existences of God’s love in my life. I was questioning the very fact that if God is love where was it in this place. Questions like “Why are you not protecting these boys?”, “You say you are love, but where is your love here?”, and ”How could you allow this to happen?” ran through my mind like a stampede of wild horses. God, in His grace allowed me to question, but only for a short moment. God responded back to me as quick as a flash of lightening. His response answered my questions, and propelled my theology and understanding of humanities purpose in a very real and very practical way. God’s response to me was simply: “My love is experienced in this place because you are standing here with a paint brush in your hand.” This moment broke my sorrow, grief, doubt, and distress. It is a simple truth, however, one that is often forgotten or misunderstood at times.
We can question where God’s love is at in any situation or place. However, if you understand that you are a child of God (John 1:12), a saint and not a sinner (1 Peter 2:9-10), an Ambassador of Christ and Minister of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21), and you are a workmanship of God created to do good works (Eph. 2:10) - you will stop questioning and begin living. You will begin to live life as the vehicle in which God’s love is revealed to the world. The people of God are meant to be a blessing to the world, and not a vacuum of selfishness (Gen. 12).
When those who have been transformed by Christ step out in obedience - God’s love will be revealed to all. Too often people ask the question “Why is somebody not doing something!” As a transformed Christ follower, instead of a converted one, the question becomes “Lord, what do you want me to do!” I needed to be reminded that when we submit to God and act in obedience lives will be transformed. God’s love rests in us. If we do not love others His love will be incredibly difficult to see by others. Maybe it is time that you need to pick up a paint brush, send a letter, make a phone call, sacrifice your income, let go of your “rights,” and/or say good-bye to your friends and family to follow God. If you do, it is guaranteed that lives will be transformed, the Kingdom of God will expand, and glory will be given to God. I was challenged by one simple question. If you are willing to answer this one question your life and the lives of others will be transformed. At the end of the day “Is God worth it to you?” If so, pick up your symbolic paint brush and use it. Do not act as a painter, but instead be a painter that God uses to bring life and beauty to what lacks beauty and is lifeless. In your obedience God’s love will transform lives because you were willing.
If God is worth it, what will you do and where will you go in obedience to God? How will you be a blessing unto the world and transform lives in the name of Christ?
May your kingdom ripples flow for a lifetime!
The moment in time I speak of was at a boys housing facility. This facility held boys ranging from 6-18 years old. On this day I found myself serving arm and arm with the Crossroads Discipleship Training School of 2014. I can only describe these obedient followers of Christ as an eclectic and passionate group of people who are desperate for the Lord.
On this particular Saturday our entire class united together to serve this boys facility. Up to this point we lived and worshiped communally, but served separately. This was a great day in which the nurses of our team rallied their well-trained skills to provide health care for the roughly 100 boys housed in this prison type environment. While others used their passions for art to love on, encourage, and care for those boys who shared a similar passion - the remaining of us spent the day laying the foundational work needed in order to bring life to an otherwise lifeless hospital ward. Our goal was to clean, paint, and refurbish this dreary place. We wanted to provide a place that was warm and friendly rather than cold and lonely, so healing could come to those boys who suffered the health challenges of an overwhelmingly difficult environment.
On this day I found myself splitting my time between jump roping with the boys and working in the hospital ward. The time I spent in the hospital ward that day was filled with cleaning, painting, praying, and singing. As I played with the boys and worked in the ward I began to be overwhelmed with the thoughts of their life as I observed them.
From my observation there was limited staff due to what I assume to be a limited budget. Boys were running around like prairie dogs – full of spirit and mischief. I quickly learned as I spoke with the nurses that there was a great deal of sexual activity amongst the boys. I partnered this knowledge with my observation that day of a young man roughly the age of 13-15 years old walking out from around the corner of a building with two boys ranging between 6-8 years old. Given the situation, as well as witnessing the behavior of the older boy after the fact, it was clear that something took place that did not guard the ideals of purity. As I was processing this information, in addition to thinking of the lack of care and safety provided for the boys generally speaking, I began thinking of my children. At this point a great deal of heart ache and grief began to overwhelm me similar to that of the waves of the Indian Ocean beginning to engulf the beach during the incoming tide. My thoughts began to spin out of control as my heart began to fill with sorrow for each of the boys. The thoughts of my children’s lives being surrendered to this life exponentially increased my distress. At this moment I began to question the existence of God’s love.
The moment I began to question the existence of God’s love I found myself slathering paint across a crumbling wall. I was not questioning the existences of God’s love in my life. I was questioning the very fact that if God is love where was it in this place. Questions like “Why are you not protecting these boys?”, “You say you are love, but where is your love here?”, and ”How could you allow this to happen?” ran through my mind like a stampede of wild horses. God, in His grace allowed me to question, but only for a short moment. God responded back to me as quick as a flash of lightening. His response answered my questions, and propelled my theology and understanding of humanities purpose in a very real and very practical way. God’s response to me was simply: “My love is experienced in this place because you are standing here with a paint brush in your hand.” This moment broke my sorrow, grief, doubt, and distress. It is a simple truth, however, one that is often forgotten or misunderstood at times.
We can question where God’s love is at in any situation or place. However, if you understand that you are a child of God (John 1:12), a saint and not a sinner (1 Peter 2:9-10), an Ambassador of Christ and Minister of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21), and you are a workmanship of God created to do good works (Eph. 2:10) - you will stop questioning and begin living. You will begin to live life as the vehicle in which God’s love is revealed to the world. The people of God are meant to be a blessing to the world, and not a vacuum of selfishness (Gen. 12).
When those who have been transformed by Christ step out in obedience - God’s love will be revealed to all. Too often people ask the question “Why is somebody not doing something!” As a transformed Christ follower, instead of a converted one, the question becomes “Lord, what do you want me to do!” I needed to be reminded that when we submit to God and act in obedience lives will be transformed. God’s love rests in us. If we do not love others His love will be incredibly difficult to see by others. Maybe it is time that you need to pick up a paint brush, send a letter, make a phone call, sacrifice your income, let go of your “rights,” and/or say good-bye to your friends and family to follow God. If you do, it is guaranteed that lives will be transformed, the Kingdom of God will expand, and glory will be given to God. I was challenged by one simple question. If you are willing to answer this one question your life and the lives of others will be transformed. At the end of the day “Is God worth it to you?” If so, pick up your symbolic paint brush and use it. Do not act as a painter, but instead be a painter that God uses to bring life and beauty to what lacks beauty and is lifeless. In your obedience God’s love will transform lives because you were willing.
If God is worth it, what will you do and where will you go in obedience to God? How will you be a blessing unto the world and transform lives in the name of Christ?
May your kingdom ripples flow for a lifetime!