There was a man whose life was a picture of our Great Artist God. On Saturday, March 29, 2008 a group of people gathered to remember him and his life of art. The group was as diverse as any painters pallete could wish to be. His art was communicated through pictures, illustrations, murals, and paintings. But his art was also seen in his relationships. He had a dynamic and joyful relationship with Jesus Christ and a love for people. His life was a picture of the great commandment.
Jesus said, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40)."
There are words that produce images. There are images that bring to mind words and beautiful concepts of truth. Our words are often feeble attempts to give definition to deep, revealed truth.
But there is this unsurpassed beauty produced by God, which somehow combines words and pictures and lives and all of time and the whole universe to speak to us at specific moments through His Word, Jesus Christ.
Alfredo Flores taught me the power of images to convey truth about our Saviour Jesus.
It was early one morning. We arose before the sun. We awakened the dawn. We loaded the car with all of the necessary instruments. These were the tools of a skilled workman. He was the kind of man described in the book of Proverbs when it says, "Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men (Prov. 22:29)."
We drove to a small donut and coffee shop to get some fuel for the body.
We went a little further to the small laundry mat in Hawthorne, CA.
The work was already started days before. I was entering a scene. I had a small part. I was an assistant to a skilled master.
What I saw and what I learned will never leave me in all the days of my short walk on this earth. It was a picture. I saw a picture of words. The words themselves were meant to paint a picture. And this was a picture of those colorful words. And i entered into the creation of the picture.
The words that inspired the mural came from Isaiah 55:9-11:
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
The prophet Isaiah was speaking words that he received from God. God was speaking words that were painting a picture for us. It was a picture of who He is and what his purpose is when He speaks. His words are not meaningless or pointless. His words give life. His words give eternal life to those who hear and believe. Rain causes plants to grow. The plants grow and produce food for us so that we can eat bread and live. God's word comes to us. We hear his words. They enter our heart and give us life.
That is a picture.
The painting that covered the entire upper part of the wall around the inside of the building was of two hands extended to the earth and watering it, bringing life to everything.
I hope that you can see the beauty in that picture. I hope that you can see the beauty in the life of a man who lived to communicate the beauty and wonders of God. I hope that we will all be together one day and take pleasure in God when he repaints everything and makes it all new.
Alfredo Diaz Flores accomplished the purpose God gave him. He brought vibrant colors to our lives and glory to God. And now he rests.
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