What Rises to the Surface

 Now faith is the assurance

      of things hoped for,

the conviction of things

                 not seen.

         Hebrews 11. 1

 

For at least 137 years, an image remained hidden under a piece of cardboard.  In preparation for a larger exhibit of Van Gogh's work at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh this summer, an art restorer at the museum x-rayed Van Gogh's painting, the Head of a Peasant Woman, which he created in 1885. 

As the curator put it, in the x-ray image, "a ghostly face appeared," that had been neither known about or seen before.  It was a self-portrait of the artist himself, hidden on the back of the painting and covered up with cardboard.  Even now, the actual image can only be seen by x-ray.  Because of the many layers of paint and glue, it is extremely difficult to separate the two paintings.

But what a surprise.  The museum had owned the piece since 1960.  Nobody knew it was two paintings and not just one.  

It made me think about the passage in scripture when Daniel focused his heart on God and saw clearly what others could not see.

[The LORD] reveals deep and hidden things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

    and the light dwells with Him.

                     Daniel 2. 22

 

 

Under the portrait of our own lives, what image appears?  What is not just inextricably attached, but what is painted into the narrative of our story?  What has God redeemed?  Is the face of Christ imprinted in who we are and what we do and what we are all about? 

The individual daily elements of God's faithfulness to us are not always recognized by us in our lives, but the pattern of His Presence is evident, His encompassing hand, and His unique fingerprints.  His faithfulness leaves a lasting imprint, always something different that cannot be explained away.  We know even what we cannot see fully.  What is layered in our lives, even what is beyond our sight, always in some way comes to the surface.

God speaks over and over about the visible and invisible, the seen and unseen, all through scripture, because there is a solid different dimension to this life, not just beneath the surface but encompassing eternity.  We may not realize the implications yet, but we can know the God who works in what is immeasurable.

What we love, what we live for, changes us to the core, and a new image gradually emerges, engraved by years of walking with God, spending time in His Word, being changed by worship, praying continually, living faithfully, loving and serving God and others radically, and standing as a strong witness to His steadfast love. 

There may be a lot of chaos on the outside parts.  But God brings order to it from within.  God signs the name of Jesus on it. God redeems what we cannot ever realize. 

When we seek God, our hearts are transformed. He changes our vision.  We see God differently, we see others differently, we see ourselves differently, and we see our circumstances differently.  God brings His perspective to our hearts.  We no longer abide in the finite, but the eternal.  We realize something new that is not apparent on the surface.  We see Him. And we bear His image for His glory.

So we do not lose heart.

Though our outer self is wasting away,

our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us

an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

as we look not to the things that are seen

     but to the things that are unseen.

For the things that are seen are transient,

but the things that are unseen are eternal.

                       2 Corinthians 4. 16-18