In our living room hang two paintings by Mark Keathley, an artist that Ron and I discovered in a Smoky Mountain art gallery. The moment I saw Keathley’s “Dance of Grace,” I felt it captured the freedom I experienced after learning to live freely in the grace of Jesus. My life no longer centers on my power to get right with God, but rather on what Jesus has done. That has made all the difference!
In that painting, Jesus wears a broad smile as he dances with a circle of carefree children. You can almost hear the beat of the music when your gaze lingers on the lively children, Jesus’ dancing feet, and the crowd’s delight. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of the happy certainty I hold onto. One day, I will step forever into that painting with the One who truly delights in me!
There is another painting I would love to add to my small collection. Keathley’s “More Are With Us” depicts what I believe to be one of the most glorious revelations in all of the Old Testament.
In 2 Kings 6, we learn about the king of Syria’s plan to go to war against Israel. God protected His people by repeatedly revealing the Syrian king’s secret battle plans to Elisha, the prophet. Elisha then shared these details with Israel’s king to keep them safe. Naturally, after being outsmarted so many times, the Syrian king grew frustrated and accused his men of betrayal. A servant then told the king that Elisha had been revealing his battle plans to Israel’s king all along.
The Syrian king turned his anger on Elisha and chased him. When Elisha was finally found in Dothan (not the one in Alabama :)), the massive Syrian army surrounded the city. Early the next morning, Elisha’s servant went outside and saw they were completely encircled by Syrian soldiers, horses, and chariots. The servant was petrified, but Elisha? He calmly told his servant, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16) That’s what I call confidence! “Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)
The “mighty” Syrian army painted by Keathley in the foreground looks pretty puny compared to God’s shining army, which can only be seen through spiritual eyes.
In the New Testament, when Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he included a heartfelt prayer asking God to open the eyes of their hearts. He wanted the church in Ephesus to see the hope, inheritance, and power that belonged to them as His called people. (Ephesians 1:18-19) God is still just as mighty, just as protective, and just as available as He was in Elisha’s day. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He still longs for us to open our eyes to the certainty we have in Him, the riches available to us, and the mighty power that continually surrounds us. We have been blessed in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:3), and we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). And let us never forget the role angels still play in our lives! “The angels are spirit-messengers sent by God to serve those who are going to be saved.” (Hebrews 1:14 TPT) They are glad to minister to us because they see Jesus in us.
On those days when the words of the enemy surround me, when my faith falters, and fear sets in, I look up at that second Keathley painting on my wall. “Mountain Glory” ALWAYS reminds me to recite Psalm 121:1-2 to myself: “I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” I live in peace knowing that I am not alone, and the One living in me is greater than the one living in the world. (1 John 4:4) Then I sit back, remembering that there are more with me than I can see. And … I just breathe.
