The Master Artist, A purpose-pointed parable puzzle

Purpose-Pointed Parable Puzzles
The Master Art Teacher by Janet

Directions: Find 18 or more hidden messages as you read
Master! You are an amazing artist!...and your creation speaks for itself. Its beauty is taken forgranted ---your skill and craftsmanship are exquisite, and the patience you have shown---well, more love than I could even imagine. I can tell that you are serious about finishing it.
You certainly came up with some interesting subject matter, and filled a universe of canvas with its interest and beauty. It's just amazing, Lord! You created the very idea of art when you created nature, and with this you gave us our guidelines as artists---which makes you the very first art teacher. Every artist on earth has used your ideas: harmony, variety, rhythm , movement, texture, color, space, --just to name a few. This was how you filled your canvas with life.
However, not everyone using your ideas will give you the credit for it.
Master, some are claiming that you just threw all the paint on the canvas and got lucky at what came of it. But I know you could visualize the painting before you ever began. You even planned where you were going to paint ME into the picture, Master. Such an intricate work, O Lord!
I'm sorry so many of us have been messing it up, spilling things on it, and such. Some artists have even tried to paint over some of it and claim it as their own. I told them to stop and they got mad at me. How I wish they would learn to appreciate and enjoy your painting and acknowledge what you went through to plan it all out and paint it just for them. And thank you for what you had to endure in order to finish it.
The canvas had become a heap in the floor---people were walking on it, even spitting on it. I said "Stop! He's been through enough of your harassment." But they ignored me and kept right on ruining the beautiful picture that you had so carefully painted. When they shoved it over in the corner with the dirt and grime I thought surely you would say something. Then I watched you. You didn't look mad, just disapointed. I watched as you picked it up out of the dirt and gently smoothed it out. Then you did the most amazing, unexplainable thing---you began pouring paint all over it--and I felt really bad because it looked like you were messing it all up even more---maybe you were just going to throw it away and start over.
I watched as you turned your back and walked away, leaving it there in a pile of ruin. I just went home and cried. It had been such a beautiful painting!

One morning I woke up, desiring to see it one more time since it probably would be thrown away soon.

As I approached,what I saw made me stop and stare. Instead of seeing a blotted, dirty red canvas in the floor, it was hanging there in blazing beauty, all framed and stretched smooth----and the colors were even brighter than before! And I saw that all the cracks and wrinkles had been fixed and painted over. It was the most beautiful it had ever been , shining with new color and life.
That's when I knew I wanted this man to be my master art teacher. I wanted to learn from this artist, because he can take something so ugly and messed up and make it something good.

So--I'm still taking art lessons---and I have to go back to that beautiful painting from time to time ,and just look at it so I will never forget why he is the master artist.
And about all those people who were mean to him--would you believe he invited them to his house to come and see the painting?? And that some of them have actually begun taking art lessons from him. These same people were invited up to the very front where they could see the picture real close. I started to get a little jealous because I'd never gotten to the very front before, and I had been one of his students---until I saw them doing something that astonished me. Instead of just enjoying looking at the beautiful painting as they were invited to do, they had rags in their hands and were beginning to carefully work on it and clean it from dust and debris. Were these the same people who had been so mean to the master artist? Yes, it was them but they looked different. Being so close to the painting and the master artist, the light was shining on them and their faces were glowing---and the master smiled. I could tell he was pleased.

Oh, ..and the enemy rival--he pitched a fit and stormed off---Last I heard he had gone underground, probably trying to plan revenge. I think the rest of the others must be hanging out with him.

Well,--- I'm with the master artist today and he told me to tell you about it.

LET THOSE WHO HAVE EARS, HEAR
ANSWERS TO PUZZLE

Here are the meanings: Did you get the "puzzle" correct?

Master artist = JESUS

The Painting = life, love and creation by God

Artists painting over it--to take credit = Humanism

Throwing paint on canvas /get lucky = "the big bang" theory

dirty torn canvas = Christ dying for mankind --going to the cross/beatings and abuse suffered

dirty canvas wadded up in corner = sin ruins real life

art lessons = growth/discipleship

what the artist went through to plan it all out and paint it = God's master plan
for each one of our lives could only be completed by His suffering in our place
blazing brightness = our lives have real meaning, everything seems brighter; newness of life--not old rundown

Canvas stretched out and framed = made new and framed to keep it that way--promises of God are true--life here on earth has its boundaries--Purity of God

cracks and wrinkles in canvas = Human condition of death resulting from sin

filled the cracks = He was the substitute for our sin --death is defeated

smoothed = made our paths straight, comforted

Master artist walking away from canvas=when God turned his back on Jesus when he was on the cross

paint poured out= blood of Christ --He was poured as a " drink offering"

people deciding to take art lessons = saved/from sins/accepted Christ as savior

people invited to the front=God loves those who are great sinners just as much--They are seen cleaning because they realize the greater sin condition God brought them from and want to keep it clean --their closeness to the master is mandatory for obedience

light shining on people = the light and love of Christ will be reflected in those that are close to Him

Underground = Hell