Irrevocable

Irrevocable

The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

IN THE EARLY MORNING LIGHT, we climbed aboard the tour bus in Paris and headed to Versailles, roaming the private apartments of Marie Antoinette and the opulent, glittering Hall of Mirrors. By the time we climbed back on the bus to Giverny, we were a bit tired, but the tour of Claude Monet’s house and gardens perked us up immediately.

In the front of the house, fruit and ornamental trees coexisted with a central alley of iron arches. Across the street, the pond gardens—the site of Monet’s famous water lily paintings—featured a Japanese bridge covered with wisterias, weeping willows, and nymphaeas that would bloom all summer long.

Monet spent years painting at this particular house. But in 1912 he faced a setback when he was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. As his vision deteriorated, the colors and tones in his paintings changed. Though discouraged by his failing eyesight, he continued to paint. In the end, Monet painted about 250 paintings featuring water lilies. Although each painting varies, there is beauty in each of them. Today, they can be found in museums all over the world.

The truth is that if Monet had given up, the world would never have witnessed his beautiful water lily paintings. Though I’ve never faced the challenge of failing eyesight, there are many days when I’ve questioned my own gifts or talents. I’ve wondered if the words I write or the actions I take each day really matter. But Scripture is clear that our giftings are irrevocable—they can’t be undone. In Romans, Paul talks about how the Lord’s favor on Israel and those grafted into his Kingdom is irrevocable. Though he is speaking specifically of a call to the Kingdom of God, it’s also true of the gifts and call God has placed on each of us. Monet was already a famous painter by the time he moved to Giverny; he could have given up and stopped painting. Instead, his reaction was to persist. We, too, are called to love God and follow his irresistible, irrevocable call.

Lord, thank you for the irrevocable favor of your love. Give us the courage to persist even when challenges arise. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Encourage a friend with a message to remind them that their gifts and talents are irrevocable.