CHRISTIAN FINE ART GALLERY > BELIEVER’S ROAD SERIES 2 > In The Secret Place
PURCHASE THIS PRINT – Print Code: BR29
Print Sizes: S, M, L, Oversize | Original Artwork: SOLD, 42.5 cm x 35.5 cm (16.5 ” x 14″), Graphite on Paper
What a joy it is to steal away and be with the Lord in our “secret place”! As we spend time with Jesus, our personal relationship with him grows stronger, and his Holy Spirit instructs us in his ways.
Artist’s Reflection:
“Thou art my secret place…” (Psalm 32:7 GNV)
“You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence…” (Psalm 31:20 NKJV)
This drawing depicts the joy of intimacy with God in “the secret place” of his presence. It also illustrates revelation of the Word of God coming through the Holy Spirit, who is symbolically depicted as a dove (Matthew 3:16).
True Christianity is not a set of rules to be obeyed or a religion to follow; rather, it is a relationship with the Living God through faith in Jesus Christ. (See “Message“).
Every day we must meet with Jesus in our special “secret place” and spend time alone with him (Matthew 6:6). As we do, he reveals more and more of himself to us, and we grow closer to him and more in love with him. “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). He transforms us ever increasingly into his likeness, and his loving presence satisfies the deepest longings of our souls. Our “secret place” is the place of pure joy and true, abundant life with God.
As the Israelites gathered manna every day, so we also need to take in the Word of God daily (Exodus 16, John 6:44-51). Jesus says, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). The only way that spiritual life can be imparted to us is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16). That is, the Holy Spirit must “quicken” (make alive, breathe) the Scriptures to us as we read. This means we must engage with the Scriptures on a spiritual level, allowing the Holy Spirit to penetrate our hearts, to transform our minds (Romans 12:2) and to wash us with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:25-27).
If we simply take an intellectual approach to reading, understanding and interpreting the Scriptures we won’t get much out of them. We will end up with a lifeless, dry interpretation of Scripture that imparts no true spiritual life. However, when we rely upon the Holy Spirit and understand the absolute necessity for him to reveal spiritual truth to us, then we will never fail to continually feast upon the Word of God.
Therefore, whenever we go to our secret place with God, let us always ask him to speak to us and to reveal the spiritual truths of his Word to us.
Pastor and author Francis Frangipane comments in his book, Holiness, Truth and The Presence of God:
THE WORD IS GOD
Many read the Scriptures simply to reinforce their current beliefs. Although they read the entire Bible, their mind only sees certain doctrines. Instead of believing what they read, they merely read what they already believe. Rarely do they find new truths in the Word. Baptists see from their perspective, Pentecostals and charismatics each have theirs, while Catholics and other denominations often have a completely different emphasis. The same way the Jews were “baptized into Moses” (1 Corinthians 10:2), so Christians are often baptized into their denomination. Whey they are fully indoctrinated, their minds have been immersed into a pool of teaching that leaves them more conformed to the image of their sect than to the likeness of Christ.
But if we would grow in Christ’s likeness, we must be baptized into Christ’s Spirit, not the spirit or slant of any particular denomination. When one is baptized in Christ, his spirit is actually clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). It is Christ’s image in holiness and power which a true disciple seeks. We cannot allow ourselves to be innoculated with a dozen or so special Bible verses that merely get us “saved” but leave us immune from the fulness of God! You are a disciple of Jesus Christ; the reality of God’s kingdom is found in the combined meaning of all Jesus taught. Therefore, you must treasure every word!
The Word is God. The Scriptures are not God but the Spirit that breathes through the words is God. And this Holy Spirit should be honored as God. Therefore, as you seek the Lord, place your Bible at the foot of your bed and kneel as you read: are you not seeking to meet with the Almighty? Pray that you will not merely read intellectually. Rather, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart through the Word.
Lastly, my drawing depicts the Christian as a little child, humble, trusting, eager to learn and quick to believe and receive. This is in reference to Jesus’ words:
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4)
See also:
My Words are Spirit and Life (John 6:63) (Word of God Series)