When I was in college, I studied as an art major at the Penn State University New Kensington branch.  I was in a mode of artistic bliss as professor Bud Gibbons was instructing me, and I trained almost as an apprentice of sorts to him. Spending most of my free time consumed in the art studio, it was the perfect blend of creative escape and education that I needed as a young art student.  I took both oil and acrylic painting classes there.  It was an exciting time, as I breezed through most of the mandatory class projects quickly and had extra time to spend on my own creations.  Art was what made me tick.  Art was what I had on my mind.  

            One evening at home, an image popped into my head.  It hit me and stirred inside me.  It was inspiring. It was exciting.  A new feeling that I had not felt before swept over me as the image burned inside.  I got out a piece of paper and quickly penciled out the image that was floating around in my head.  It was both beautiful and mysterious, even as a simple sketch.  The question was… what would I do with it?

            I soon realized that I had to make a choice.  One might think that it would be an easy one, but on the contrary, this was all new and foreign to me.  I was faced with the dilemma that all artists that are Christians will eventually come to at one point or another.  Will I paint what I am passionate about?  Will I truly and fully reveal my heart and desire on canvas? Will I just go with mainstream media and paint what will sell or be popular in our culture of the day?  I had never been “given” an image to paint from God before.  I wasn’t quite sure how or what to do next.

            As I debated what to do, it burned inside of me.  I could not chase it out of my mind.  The image, and the excitement of the project, bubbled inside of me unlike any other work I had ever embarked on.  The conviction I felt forced me to simply do it, and there would be no turning back.  There was no way that I could keep such an image to myself and not let the world see it.

            But what would they think of it?

            So many times in life we let the fear of what others will think dictate the actions we take in life.  Too many times the worry about what others might think or say becomes a roadblock to a path that the Lord has huge blessings waiting on.  There may be so much good waiting on the other side of the barrier, but fear or worry looks so big we might not be able to see past it.  It brings to mind one of my favorite figures from the Bible, one that you might not recognize at first.

Oholiab and Bezalel: Exodus 31:1-11 ESV

            The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

Later on he is mentioned again when the construction actually takes place: Exodus 35:30-35, 36:1-3a

            What an honor as an artist to be described in such a way!  To be filled by God’s own Spirit to do the artistic works needed for the glory of God and the beauty of His tabernacle.  To be used to this capacity, that God’s Spirit Himself fills you with the skill necessary to do His purpose and good pleasure!  To be able to take the gift that God gives you and use it to it’s full potential!  To hold nothing back and use every ounce of creativity He breathes in you! Wow!  I want that!  Sign me up coach!

            Could you imagine if Bezalel would have succumbed to worry or fear and not taught the other artists?  What if Bezalel and Oholiab wouldn’t of worked to do all this great artwork?  Nothing had ever been done like this before.  In the newly formed nation, just delivered from Egypt (where art for evil purposes flourished), nobody had ever begun to use art for any purpose at all (except the golden calf).  This new area of deep waters could have been a roadblock of nerves to the two men who would be viewed by all the others.  Just like us in our culture today, they could have been nervous to use the gift God gave them.  Thankfully, there is no record of such trepidation. Bezalel simply did what God stirred up inside him.  Working along side with Oholiab they were used to create, and to teach the other artists God called to also create, and God created through them all. Absolutely incredible!

            Guess what?  There is zero difference in your world today.

            Well, I did decide to go through with it. I built the stretcher and hauled the canvas to class in the bed of my old blue Toyota pickup truck.  My painting was too large to be on an easel in the student section of the art room.  Instead, I brought the stretcher and canvas and hung it right on my professor’s studio wall.  At fist I stood there a bit uneasy, not knowing people’s reaction.  Once hung in such a prominent place I stood back to take it all in, and became excited that the work was now something tangible.

            As the days went by that I worked on it, God blew me away.  I didn’t really need to do anything different than just to do that which He had stirred in my spirit… and that was to paint.  I simply painted in amazement, as other students would walk in to watch what was going on.  I didn’t have to explain anything.  I didn’t need to defend anything.  God spoke for Himself.  I could hardly believe the person after person God prompted to walk my way, who needed just a little nudge by a visual illustration, and would open up to me some spiritual condition of their own heart.  I cannot begin to write down all the people touched from me just “doing what I do.”

            Since then the image has gone on to touch many people, in many countries, and on several continents, as I had prints made as ministry.  It has been displayed in gallery shows and on public walls. I have no idea the plans of what God will do with the image He had once burned into my insides that evening long ago.  To be honest… it is His creation anyway, and He has the license and choice to take and use it for whatever He desires.  I’m just happy He picked me to start it.

            So friend, let me ask you a question. What is God burning inside of you that you are being too shy or afraid to start?  Are you an artist?  Are you skilled in creative works, painting, acting, writing, molding, designing, crafting, or singing?  Are you skilled in the realm of art and need a creative outlet?  Don’t be afraid to use the gift you have for the purpose of the Lord.  That’s the whole reason Bezalel had been given his talent, the whole reason why I was given mine, and the whole reason God has given it to you.  Get out there and “do what you do!”  I challenge you to break out of your comfort level, and take the vision of that project that “burns in your heart,” and make it a reality.

            You will be amazed at how God can use it.  You will be amazed at how God can use you.

Chuck Carr