“Truth” Artist Statement

Description

“Truth”

Painting by Lisa-Colette Martin

     The ability to get through problems is in big part due to a person’s intention of thought.¹ We’re constantly bombarded with information and it’s getting harder to decipher what’s real. This Artist’s Statement presents spokes on the wheel of explaining Truth as I intend the painting to depict, as well as the truth that sets you free.^{2 3 4} The first step has to do with the moment in time when something occurs that causes a person to accept Jesus as their Savior. In that instance, the Holy Spirit enters the essence or soul of that person as a new believer.⁵ The Holy Spirit represents that part of God, within the Trinity, that lives in us and never leaves us. It is the guiding Spirit sent to us by God and is useful to us for decision-making and increasing understanding of God’s Word, which is the Bible.

Now pair this explanation with the term, ‘Fear of the Lord,’ which means to have utmost respect and reverence for God and His awesome power. This action of respect and acknowledgment changes the person, the believer. It is also known as cleansing.⁶ This happens with focus on God and His awe-striking power, leading to a sense of peace, protection, and love. This mindset gives power to place the problems and chaos of this earthly world deeper into the background. There are noticeable differences in my life after accepting Jesus as my Savior. Problems don’t trap me and weigh me down like they used to. So these ideas build on each other and bring us to God’s truth. God’s truth is what is written and revealed in the Bible⁷; learning and understanding the Bible becomes the believers shield.⁸ The shield serves as emotional protection that spills over to physical protection.⁹ You’ll find that scripture often presents life lessons and examples as an analogy of war. We understand this framework because life’s hardships often feel like a force at war with us. The Bible outlines how to gird ourselves for protection through steps of “putting on the armor of God.”¹⁰ Included in the list is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Bible. Within scripture is the well-known phrase, ‘the truth will set you free.’¹¹ This phrase has a much deeper meaning than simply, ‘don’t be a liar.’ The intention is to point us in the direction of the Bible, which contains truths from God that guide us. The more one studies, the more understanding is gained, the more the understanding gained, the stronger our faith and belief become. It is a process of liberation.¹² What we focus on matters. Keep your eyes on the Truth… Jesus. He is our shield and our means of freedom from being shackled to unnecessary concerns and problems.