God's Masterpiece

Written by Brother Terry B. Smith

Inspiration

The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God made each and every one of us with a specific purpose in mind. He made you just the way you are. You are His workmanship.

Each one of us is a masterpiece, a one-of-a-kind work of art produced by the Master Artist! We serve an awesome God who has created some pretty amazing things.

I recently visited an aquarium and was simply taken aback by the splendor-and variety-of God's creation. The leafy sea dragon is similar in shape to a seahorse. The sea dragon is decorated with leaf-shaped tentacles of yellow, brown and green. These leaves look like a beautiful, flowing gown as the sea dragon glides elegantly through the water. The sea dragon is able to hide among the plant life virtually unnoticed. Yet when it is camouflaged and hiding among the plants in the sea, God still sees and know its every move. The ominous looking tiger shark, however, swims fearlessly out in the open among the other fish. Its blunt nose and razor-sharp teeth showcase a ravenous hunter.

To the observer, a striking difference exists between these two sea creatures, yet the sea dragon and the tiger shark are each beautiful in their own special way. Both are equally special in God's eyes. He loves the tiger shark just as much as the sea dragon. Is the sea dragon any less important to God than the tiger shark? Absolutely not!

The Bible tells us that God sometimes uses things in this world to confuse the wise. Frogs are supposed to croak, but not in God's world. The Peron's tree frog makes the sound of a human laugh. Poison dart frogs make a sound described as beautiful and bird-like. Cuban tree frogs meow like a cat. These sounds are puzzling in this world.

So how does this apply to us? Your vocation may be like the tiger shark keeping you in the public eye, seen by all. Or, you may be serving God in a position that keeps you virtually unnoticed like the sea dragon. The sea dragon is just as precious to God as the tiger shark. And if these creatures are so treasured, think about how much more beautiful you are to God! He sees all the work you do in his name, even if no one else notices.

Maybe you're like the poison dart frog, the Cuban tree frog or Peron's frog. Frogs aren't supposed to make those sounds! You may have a disability or a handicap. The world says, "You can't do that. That's impossible for a person with your limitations." Need I remind you; all things are possible with God! Don't let anyone hold you back from what you want to become. Impossible is not a word, it is just a reason for someone to stay defeated and discouraged.

It matters not whether you serve God out in the forefront like the tiger shark or virtually unnoticed like the sea dragon, or maybe even like the little frogs making strange and unusual sounds. No matter. God is so very proud of you! You may face opposition, but the only thing holding you back is your own imagination. You can be whatever you want to be.

You may be a single mom working to earn a living while your kids are at daycare. God knows your struggle and He loves you. You may be the mother of a special needs child who needs round-the-clock care. Maybe you feel all alone. God knows your pain and He cares about you. Remember, no work is in vain when it is done for the Lord.

What a sense of humor God must have, making little frogs that laugh and meow and chirp like birds. We can learn a lesson from them. They just accept the way God made them and carry on, as do all the fish in the sea, regardless of their beauty or their individual roles. So who do you think you are? A special work of art crafted by God. God has his eyes on you right now and He loves YOU, His one-of-a-kind work of art. You are God's masterpiece!

Brother Terry B. Smith holds a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Counseling from Bethany Seminary in Dothan, Alabama, and is currently working toward his Master's Degree in Biblical Studies. A born-again Christian since 1988, he loves to write inspirational devotions to encourage those who feel they are without hope. Brother Terry lives in Pinson, Alabama with his wife of 20 years and their two teen daughters. God's Masterpiece is his first published work.