SALVATION »

Most people will appreaciate a rose, its bud form than a widely open bloom. Perhaps an open one reminds us of impending death! we would like to stay young as long as we could, do we? - therefore the tendency to identify ourselves in a bud. In a bud, we can hide our secrets. We don't have to open too much of ourselves to others. We can still wear our masks. We feel more comfortable that way.

In a fully open state, we become vulnerable. yet, it is only in a full-bloom that we see the majestic beauty in its totality in the same reality that beauty is skin-deep.

I identify the Old Testament of the Bible as the bud. In and through it God stores the mystery of His salvationic plants in imagery, allegory, figurative and prophetic forms. Through the course of His historic relationships with men, he reveals Himself progressively. The New Testament is like the rose in its fullest glory when God reveals Himself in the form of a man. In the maturity of God's timing He became man (and hence making Himself vulnerable) that He may take the place of men to die for their sins so as to save them from spiritual darkness/suicide. Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". 1 Cornithians 1:18 tells us that the cross is foolishness to men but it is the power of God for the salvation of those who believe in Him and Christ was crucified so that through His ressurrection He was glorified. Not only that, through Christ's death on the cross, the greatest gift of God's love was manifested in the gift of salvation. The magnified rose bloom signified the immensity, extravagrance and great magnitude of God's love. Red denote the passion of His love for us ... as words of the hymn ends, "Amazing love, how can it be that Thou my God should die for me". The red bllom also brings to rememberance the blood that covered His body so that through His blood, we are covered in His glory. The petals envisage the enfolding and beckoning arms of His love over us - a covering of His blood over us. Look at the stamen at the centre with its millions and millions of pollen. Oh, don't they remind us of the countless human race that is the totality/centrality of God's heartbeat. We are the reason! Christ died for us so that we are saved from condemnation to eternal death to salvation in eternal life with God in heaven. The yellow stamen/pollen reminds us of the shinning stars in the heavenly realm. To those who holds on to His Word of life, they'll shine like stars. (Phil 2:15).

[Price: $7000 - Available]

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Size: 52x45 inch