Consider the Lilies

Shelley | Posted on February 23, 2023 |

As Artist Makoto Fujimura considered the purpose of each of the four Gospels, he painted each one laced with the tears of Jesus in mind (John 11:35). The work shown here called Consider the Lilies is his creative expression for the Gospel of Luke. It might seem like this painting came together quickly; however, that assumption would be false. According to Fujimura’s website, “Consider the Lilies is done with over sixty layers of finely pulverizes [sic] precious minerals (azurite and malachite), oyster shell white, and painted with sumi ink that has been cured for over a century, as well as gold and platinum powders, mixed with Hide glue (Japanese Sanzenbon, which is no longer being made), to adhere the minerals onto a hand-pulled Japanese paper.” (https://makotofujimura.com/art/portals/four-holy-gospels)

Over sixty layers! … and each one must dry before the next one is applied. What a slow process, yet without the background information, we would never know the time involved to create this thing of beauty.

With the warm weather, Spring crocuses are blooming, shooting up seemingly in an instant, but we know that, like the painting above, what would appear to be an overnight process has in fact stretched over months. These small flowers went through significant seasons and changes since we gazed on them last year.

Restoration of a person takes time too. From the moment we say “yes” in response to Jesus’ “follow Me,” (what we call the moment of salvation) we are in the hands of the Master Artist who wants to restore our lives to the “sacred works of art set to music” that He created us to be. This is transformation, which requires our faith to be a lifestyle, not only a Sunday morning event. It takes one reading of Romans 12:9-21 to show us how short we fall of the true marks of a Christian, and plenty of other passages list the attitudes and behaviors that must go, if we are to grow in likeness to Jesus. God is ready, willing, and able to restore what has been broken, warped, scratched, and marred. Paul writes, “for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 NRSVUE). The Loving Restorer wants us to spring forth out of the dirt of our lives and bloom as a testimony of what God has done.

If you are still covered in soil because you haven’t allowed God access to your life, tell Him you want to that to change right now. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). His saving grace is a gift. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Then open yourself to the Holy Spirit who will start to work just as Paul wrote.

For those who are already experiencing the transforming work of the Master Artist, be encouraged – every day you are bringing a little more beauty to the eyes of passersby who comment, “I didn’t notice that flower there yesterday” and pause because being near you may be the only bit of goodness or encouragement they are near all day. All glory to God!