THE artist in our illustration wants two figures to complete his painting, so he is arranging with the boy and girl to come at a certain time each day that he may paint them in his picture. Very few of us, I expect, have had our portraits painted in oil colors. We have been to art galleries, no doubt, and seen paintings of distinguished men and women, but neither you nor I are likely to be so honored.
There is, however, a new artist now-a-days who does a great deal of portrait making, and very quickly he does them too. I think I may safely say you have all had your portraits made by him. His name is Light. "What do you mean?" you ask. Have you ever had your photograph taken? All the photographer did was to touch a little spring which opened a shutter to let in the light—it was the light shining on you that painted your picture on the plate inside the camera! The word "photograph" means something written, or drawn, by light (the Greek word for light is photos, and grapho means to write).
Light, makes no mistakes. If you had a black smudge on your face, he would copy it exactly; if your hair was untidy, it would be untidy in the picture, but with a painting it is not always so. A story is told of Oliver Cromwell, who, after some persuasion, agreed to have his portrait painted. When it was nearly finished it was shown to him. He studied it for a few moments and then returning it to the artist said, "Paint me just as I am," and refused to allow the painting to be exhibited until the artist had promised to paint in a large mole that disfigured his face. Nothing but a truthful picture of himself would satisfy him.
But sunlight only takes a picture of what shows outside of you; it cannot look into your heart. You may have a very pretty face, and be rather proud of having your photo taken; but I wonder if you would like a picture taken of your thoughts and feelings, showing the anger that lies there, the temper, the untruth, the hatred, the envy. If a photographer came along who could take a picture like that, how you would keep out of his way! Let me tell you there is one, and his name is Light too; not sunlight this time, but "the word of God.”
Have you not felt a text sometimes search you through and through? For instance, "Thou God seest me," which means that He not only sees your body, but your innermost heart as well. We do not like that, for we know the scripture is true which says the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9).) Those beams of light make us feel very uncomfortable.
Now for the good news. That same Light that shows us our black hearts, shows us also what is in God's heart, and we find to our joy that it is full of love! Pity is there too, and mercy, and forgiveness, but no anger. God's love is proved to us in the death of Jesus, for God sent Him, and He suffered in our stead, "the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.”
Do not hide from the light, but let it in; and when it has shown you what you are, it will tell you all that God is, and fill your heart with thanksgiving.