When I see something I like, be it a painting or some other random creation, I often make little changes to make it my own. I tweek it here and there to make something – although still similar – something that represents my likes and interests.

Last weekend I joined some friends from my Sunday School class at Art and Soul, a group painting establishment in Germantown, to paint a cross. Although I was looking forward to the social time away from the kids, my initial thought was that I didn’t need another cross in my house. I think I have about 20 scattered through the halls and walls of our house. So I decided to go and if I didn’t like what I created, I would just give it away or paint over it.

When I got there the lady said to pick colors based on the sample paintings hanging on the wall, and I didn’t love any of them. Instead, I decided to do something I could hang in my bedroom which meant I needed charcoal grey, red, white, and avocado green. Sounds strange I am sure, but those are the colors in the room and I love it. I closed my eyes, and I could see the painting I wanted to create.

Then I got to painting. I was surprised that I finished in such a short amount of time and I actually love the way it turned out. Plus, my hubbie was pretty impressed. Now it hangs in our bedroom and it makes me smile every time I see it.

In Exodus, God calls on the creative types to built the ark, table, lampstands, tabernacle and every thing needed to worship Him. What stands out to me is that He gives very specific instructions.

He doesn’t stand up there like my instructor at Art and Soul and say, “Now choose your color and the size of cross you want to make. Then think about any embellishments you might want to add.” God didn’t leave any room for interpretation or creative expression.

Why?

The tabernacle and everything else were supposed to point to Him. They weren’t suppose to be a sample of someone’s creative talent, but rather the awesome glory of God. If it had been left to interpretation, who knows what would have been created. While it may have been stunningly beautiful, the work would have emphasized the creator not the Creator. But God wanted the curtains blue, purple, and scarlet – not yellow, orange, and crimson. He chose the colors and embellishments that would best represent in human terms His glory, goodness, and power.

What does this mean for me?

Well, I don’t think God minds that I interpreted the painting above how I wanted and put a little me into it. But . . . when he gives specific instructions on something, there isn’t room for interpretation.

Commands like . . .

Love your neighbor

Give to the poor

Shelter the homeless

Turn the other cheek

Forgive

Those aren’t suggestions. They aren’t colors you can choose from to make the painting that represents your idea of Christianity. They are requirements. Just like God instructed them the specific colors for the curtain (Exodus 26:31), He has instructed you and me as to the specific colors of our love.

God’s commands aren’t easy. You and I both know that, but they aren’t optional either. Just like God had a vision of how he wanted the tabernacle to look and the colors the curtains should be, He has a vision of how He wants you and me to be. That vision includes the intricate weaving of colors. Loving your neighbor, giving to the poor, sheltering the homeless, turning the other cheek, and forgiving are colors that reflect His glory, His goodness, and His power.

You and I have a choice . . . either let the Creator have His way with us for His glory, or keep meddling with the colors and messing things up.