Show Your Gold – #4 Lent Painting

If we look for dirt, we will find it. If we look for GOLD, we will find that too. Which filter is our normal go-to?

I am having a blast playing with this new art technique, pour painting, and today’s masterpiece has layers of meaning. “Show Your Gold” represent some of my history but it also declares my destiny, your destiny, in King Jesus. I attended Vanderbilt University (Black and Gold) many years ago and “Show Your Gold” was one of our slogans. “Anchor Down” seems to have taken its place but both actually have a much deeper, spiritual significance.

I was far from being who God made me to be when I was in college but my destiny was not derailed during my wilderness years. If God calls us His kids, that makes us royalty in Christ; therefore, we were made to SHOW OUR GOLD, not because of anything we did, but because of the One we are ANCHORED DOWN to!

That may sound a little corny but I take God at His Word when He says, “Look for Me with all your heart and you will find Me.” When I look for God, the gold, in everything, I always find it. It is much more than the power of positive thinking or a “glass half-full” mentality. It is a Kingdom filter that is available to everyone but God will not force His filter on us.

Let’s take a moment right now and ask God to show us our go-to filter. Is our knee-jerk reaction to look for dirt or gold? If we don’t like our answer, God is faithful and will finish the good work He started in us; He will change our filter if we ask.

Gold represents the manifest Presence of God. Since we are His image-bearers, it is our divine destiny to SHOW HIS GOLD.

 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 MSG

In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul was generous with his words of affirmation when he saw believers living out the kindness, generosity, compassion and love of Christ. He played a significant role in calling out and celebrating the God-gold in others.

We get to do that too!

I know I want people to look for the gold in me instead of the dirt.

Don’t you?

Paul calls out the believers in Corinth, telling them their lives “inspire an outpouring of thanksgiving and praise to God Himself.” (2 Cor. 9:12 TPT) WOW- IS THERE ANY BETTER COMPLIMENT! Calling someone out was never meant to be negative. Calling someone out for the God-gold they shine actually inspires others to proudly SHOW HIS GOLD, boasting in this,

“But the one who boasts should boast in this,
that he understands and knows Me—
that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love,
justice, and righteousness on the earth,
for I delight in these things.
This is the Lord’s declaration.” Jeremiah 9:24 HCSB

I know there have been times in my life I have not looked for the gold in others and there have many occasions where the gold in me was so hidden I thought it was gone.

Can you relate?

But rest in this,

“God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29 HCSB)

In light of that, we are made to shine and we shine more brightly when we call out and celebrate the light in others. When we choose to live the life of a GOLD-DIGGER, shame, self-pity and self-righteousness will always call in sick for the treasure hunt!

I am thoroughly enjoying this Lenten season, offering a sacrifice of praise through my daily creative process in paint and print. I particularly love giving a shout out on instagram each day to other creatives who have “inspired an outpouring of praise and thanksgiving to God Himself” in me!