God was angry when people did bad things and He wanted to punish them. However, Uncle Noah was a good man who listened to God, and God protected Uncle Noah by asking him to build a big boat to keep him, his family and some animals safe. God set a rainbow in the sky after the flood, promising Uncle Noah that He would never flood the earth again.
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God gave Abraham and Sarah their promised child in their old age. This reminds me of my own story, where my father (whose Christian name is Abraham too) and mother waited almost ten years to receive God’s gift of a child (me!) to them. We are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to God’s promise in the Bible.
My painting is in semi-abstract form. It shows briefly the 3 aspects of a Christian life. On the bottom right hand corner of the picture, it depicts pre-believers as represented by the colours of sin (i.e. evil, wickedness, disbelief, greed). There are also believers who are led astray by the evil one. However, 1 John 1:9 clearly gives the hope and promise of God’s forgiveness. The centre of my painting is painted in green which represents salvation, repentance, restoration, growth, and most importantly, faith. The musical notes, the opened door to receive pre-believers, the crucifix, the bible, the open palms are icons of joy, eternity, God’s Word and faith. Lastly, the Dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit and also represents God and His Unconditional Love. His Heart which I have painted in yellow indicates the supreme power of God, His blessings, His promises and hope as recorded in the Bible.
Isa. 40:31 reminds me that I can hope in the Lord when I face difficulties. When I wait upon the Lord and rest in Him, He will renew my strength so that I can rise above my challenges and not grow weary, just like how the eagles soar on their wings instead of busily flapping their wings.
I chose the story of the shepherds receiving the news about the birth of Jesus as it brought hope not only to them but also to all of creation. The angel’s announcement certainly got the attention of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. But it was something else that sent them hurrying toward a manger in Bethlehem. It was HOPE. After hearing the good news, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed. After the shepherds witnessed the birth of Jesus, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Their lives were changed. Similarly, we have hope of a renewed relationship with God and a hope of eternal life through Jesus’ birth.