When author John Ortberg (God is Closer Than You Think) and his wife Nancy traveled around Europe during the first year of their marriage, one of the highlights was viewing Michelangelo’s painting The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In that painting God is rushing to Adam on a cloud, propelled by angels. God is reaching out to Adam. God’s hand comes within a hairbreadth of Adam’s. Evidently Michelangelo wanted to convey the message of God’s relentless determination to reach out and be with His created people.
Years later Pastor Ortberg was seated on a plane next to a businessman. On the man’s computer screen saver was a picture of his only child, a toddler taking his first shaky step. The businessman proceeded to show John many pictures of his son. He was so preoccupied with his son because he viewed him through a father’s eyes. When John noted that the businessman obviously missed his son, he asked how long the businessman had been gone from home. The businessman answered, “Yesterday.” He was rushing home to be with his son.
So it is with us and God, as Pastor Ortberg notes:
“I am a child on God’s screen saver, and so are you. The tiniest details of our lives never grow old to him. God himself is filled with wonder at our faltering steps and stammering words- not because we do them better than anyone else, but because he views them through the eyes of a loving Father.”
