“Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” (Psalm 90:16,17)
Artists of all sorts mine the ups and down of their relationships to come up with the substance of their art. How many songs are there expressing the bliss or heartache in romantic love? We feel a deep resonance in books and films that have arisen out of the creators own experience.
We can find a certain catharsis in knowing there are others who share our feelings, who have “been there.” But in the end, what has been accomplished? When the song is over, the book or movie finished, the fleeting connection we felt, however nice, is largely forgotten.
The artistry of man, however sublime, is no substitute for the consolations of God. The Word that was God, by whom all things were made, became flesh and dwelled among us. He experienced all we can experience. He felt all we can feel. He travelled the same heights and depths to which our soul can travel. The wrong path was always available to Him. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He never missed God’s turn.
It’s nice to have someone who can commiserate with us. But we need much more than sympathy and understanding. We need a Savior – one who has been through the wringer, but come out unscathed and the better for it; one who knows how to help us do the same. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
Art that is designed to stir up our emotions has no eternal value and can even be the cause of great harm. All that we do and say and create (i.e., “the work of our hands”) should not merely seek to resonate with and confirm the human condition. If we would profit our fellow man we need to devote ourselves to pointing them to the Word made flesh.
Let God put a new song in your mouth, filled with praise to the Savior who has brought you up and out of a horrible pit. Don’t spend your limited days producing wood, hay, and stubble. Step off the stage and give Christ the spotlight. People need to see and hear from Him, not us.