By: Joel Ramirez
When we walk through an art museum, we are naturally drawn to the finished works, the paintings framed perfectly, hanging under soft light, presented as complete and beautiful. We admire the brushstrokes, the colors, and the composition. What we do not see, however, is everything that led to that moment: the countless hours of practice, the failed attempts, the training, the frustration, and the inspiration drawn from life itself. The canvas on the wall is not just paint, it’s a story. The painting represents a journey that began long before the first stroke touched the canvas. In many ways, this reflects how we view one another. We tend to focus on what is visible, the outward appearance, while missing the deeper story beneath. Scripture reminds us in 1 Samuel 16:7 that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God sees the full picture including the process, the struggle, and the intention behind what is ultimately displayed.
Our spiritual lives follow a similar pattern. When someone becomes a Chistian, we often see that moment as the beginning, but in reality, it is part of a much longer story. Each of us carries experiences that shape who we are long before we begin to walk our Christian walk. Some of those moments are filled with joy, while others are marked by hardship, mistakes, or wandering. Yet none of it is wasted. One powerful example is Onesimus, a man whose life before becoming a Christian was far from admirable. He was a runaway servant, likely burdened with guilt and uncertainty. Yet through an encounter with the Gospel, his story began to change. In Philemon 1:10-11, the Apostle Paul writes “ I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formally was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.” This transformation reminds us that God meets us where we are, not where we think we need to be, as echoed in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
After becoming a Christian, Onesimus did not remain unchanged. Like an artist refining their craft, he entered into a process of growth and transformation. Faith is not a single moment but a continual shaping of the heart and mind. Under the guidance of Paul the Apostle, Onesimus learned what it meant to live a life rooted in Christ. This kind of growth requires intention, humility, and a willingness to be taught. Scripture calls us to this same process in 2 Peter 3:18, urging believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Just as artists develop skill over time, we are shaped through study, mentorship, and community, remembering the truth Paul speaks of through the Holy Spirit in Philippians 1:6, “that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
What is most remarkable is how this transformation becomes visible in a person’s life. The evidence of faith is not merely in words, but in action which is the way we love, serve, and live. Onesimus, once defined by his past, became known for his faithfulness and usefulness in God’s kingdom. Paul even urged Philemon that Onesimus be received “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother,” as written in Philemon 1:16. This is where the analogy of art comes full circle. The finished painting is displayed for others to see, not just as an object of beauty, but as a reflection of the artist’s work. In the same way, our lives become a reflection of God’s work within us. Jesus calls us in Matthew 5:16 to “let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” The fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, becomes the visible brushstrokes that point others to Him.
In the end, we are all works in progress, a masterpiece still being shaped. It is easy to compare ourselves to others or to feel incomplete, but Scripture reminds us of a deeper truth. In Ephesians 2:10, we are told that “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” We are not accidents or unfinished mistakes; we are intentionally being formed. Like clay in the hands of a potter, as described in Isaiah 64:8, we are continually shaped by His hands. The beauty of the Gospel is not that we arrive fully complete, but that God lovingly continues His work in us. And as He does, our lives become living testimonies, reflections of the greatest Artist of all.