BRASWELL: Art illustrates the hope of heaven

The hope of heaven finds greatest expression in art; paintings, drawings, music, sculpture, drama, and poetry.

These things and the memories of them survive because they are little illuminations of heaven. Some of those creations only last a short time but are remembered forever.

In 1895, 260 workmen built an ice castle in Leadville, Colo. Work went on night and day for two months.

It cost $20,000 to build it and 5,000 tons of ice. It covered five acres and lasted four months. Many of these pieces of art are copied and recopied and the original sold for ungodly amounts of money. Today I smile when I myself, or someone else, reminds me of “a memorable moment” in a movie, television show or play that contains a little illumination or hope of heaven and brings choice and rich experience to our hearts and minds. These little illuminations bring hope and joy to the monotony of the day.

Ultimately, hope is a person: the person of Jesus Christ. But that personality in hope can be expressed in so very many similes and metaphors in the arts and drama, stories and sculpture.

Often it is in a piece of music or a dramatic presentation that I am illumined and reminded that God keeps his promises. He cares for us and loves us. When God doesn’t speak to men they have nothing of importance to say to each other. Art and music speak, and continue to speak, agelessly of God and this hope of heaven.

History is natural in its progress but supernatural in its purpose and result. Art and music are the footprints of history and later the reflectors and illuminators of the eternal purposes and results of the journey.

Thanks be to God for the music, art, poetry, literature and drama in our community.