Consider your doors. Does it matter what color they are? My husband and I just had a discussion this morning about what color ours shall be. But does it really matter? Does God care what color we use? Because it’s just a door, right? A door keeps the elements and unwanted intruders out of our houses, or it can allow a friend entrance. The door has locks and a doorknob… perhaps a window. It serves a purpose. Who cares what color the door is, right? After my husband and I discussed color, I remembered something my great friend said. She said she likes nice things, and that she likes to have a nice house. She wondered if that was so wrong. And you know, I think I have a good answer for her.
It was several weeks ago when I got out of my house early one morning. I was able to enjoy a glorious sunrise, the sky filled with pinks and yellows and reds. And as I drove through town, the yellow daffodils caught me by surprise. It seemed too early for bright flowers, so I was pleased to see them. As I drove further along, I admired the beautiful houses with nicely manicured lawns… and I noticed all the doors. So many different colors. I began to oooh and aaah in my mind as I saw red and pink and purple doors. What at first was an unwanted chore, having to drive into town first thing, became a wonderful experience as I was captivated by color the whole time. I was happy to see all those bright entryways, so pretty and inviting. So now… consider your doors. Does the color matter?
We can go a step further. Consider the lilies. Jesus said, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you…” Luke 12:27, 28. Yes, the earth testifies of God’s greatness through color. And as earth awakens from her deep, winter slumber, she yawns and comes to life… with glorious color. Weeping willows begin to show lime green and maple trees bud red. Robins appear with orange in their breasts, and crocuses peek forth clothed in purple. And soon, the whole earth will be arrayed in color as new life springs forth.
Let’s go a little further. Consider God’s dwelling place. The LORD resided in the tabernacle as He dwelt among His chosen people, the Israelites. They may have wandered in the desert for 40 years, but God was with them. And so He gave them instructions for the construction of His tabernacle. The design was elaborate, thus God filled one named Bezaleel with His Spirit for the task. “He filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.” Exodus 35:31-33. God enabled His people with skill to do all manner of work, including tapestry. He enabled the weavers to design artistic works using blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen. Yes, the tabernacle was God’s dwelling place, and it was to be colored beautiful.
Let’s go another step. Consider God’s throne. The apostle John describes the throne in Revelation 4. The One who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance, and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Before the throne there was a sea like glass, like crystal. I had to look up Jasper and sardius, because I’m not familiar with those stones. I found that they are opaque… jasper being red or yellow or brown or green and sardius is red. And I can’t quite picture the rainbow around God’s throne, but because John says it’s “like an emerald,” I have to imagine the colors are like gems, catching and reflecting light… like the crystal sea before His throne. Yes, God is surrounded by color as He sits on His throne, and the elders surrounding Him cry out, “For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” God created the glorious color that surrounds Him.
Let’s go one more step. Consider our bodies. The apostle Paul refers to our bodies as tents, for he knew that our bodies are but temporary lodgings. But you know what else? Though merely a temporary shell, our bodies house something wonderful. Just as the tabernacle of so long ago was a dwelling place for God, that’s exactly what our bodies are today. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16. The LORD who clothes the earth in all manner of hues, the God who is surrounded by color, the One who created color… He lives inside us. So, how do we look? Does the light of God radiate from us? Are our cheeks flushed with excitement and our eyes bright? As God’s temples here on this earth, are we reflecting Him? How’s our color looking?
I reread some of last Friday’s blog (The Valley of Slaughter). A few things stood out to me. I said that because of my past sins, I had been enshrouded by darkness. I said that my sin, which was hidden away, colored my whole life. But you know… that’s not so anymore. Because things are changing… I am changing. God is removing that shroud of darkness that once enveloped me, and He’s drawing me into His marvelous light. And I am ready, so ready, for God to color me beautiful. As He clothes the grass with lilies, “how much more will He clothe me.” And so here I am, Lord. Color me. Make me something beautiful… for Your glory. May my eyes no longer be hooded with shame. May they no longer seek to look away, but rather, may they sparkle and shine with the light of Your light, catching the eye of those who pass by. May the corners of my mouth that were once turned down into a frown of condemnation, be lifted up into a welcoming smile. May my hands that once hung down listless now be stretched out. Do not let my adornment be merely outward, but rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in Your sight. (1 Peter 3:3,4). Please Lord, color me beautiful.
I’ve heard it said that our eyes are the windows (or doors) to our soul. But really… not just our eyes. Our mouths and our hands and our entire attitude stem from what lies deep inside us. And you know, He’s in there! And so, in essence, our very bodies can be doorways to Jesus. And our doors can be inviting, or they can turn someone away. Now I ask again, consider your doors. Does it matter what color they are?
My friend wants to have a nice house, a beautiful house. She wondered, is that so wrong? No, I don’t think so. May God color us all beautiful.
painter's daughter (a work in progress) 