The Parable of The Painter and The Thief
There once was a painter and he would
make the most amazing paintings. People would come far and wide to see his
works. This painter is special. All who love his paintings call him the master
painter. Wherever he went and he shared his work, people would be amazed and
changed. In towns where the painter stayed the poor were fed. People were wise
and hopeful. Some however did not understand the painter so they walked away
without changing.
This painter is unique. A person could
only love his paintings if he understood the painter. One day, a friend of the
painter wanted to commission a special work for a loved one whom the painter
had not met. Since the painter loved the man who wanted to commission the work,
he painted the work for free.
The painter worked night and day on the
painting until it was finished.
The painter washed his paintbrushes and
went to bed.
The painter planned to present his gift
to his close friend….
Everything was prepared…
Now the night before his friend was going
to pick it up, a thief came into the rich painter’s house and stole the
painting.
The thief ran… and ran….
Now when the thief got home he looked
upon the painting but only for a moment. He could not understand the work that
he had in his hand.
He did not know the painter.
He did not know how many cherished the
painter’s works or the fame of the painter.
The painter came home to see his house
was empty of the painting.
The painter was sad.
The thief got away in the night, but he
was haunted all night by what he had done.
The thief tossed and turned and tossed
and turned. Now the next day the thief, who was hungry, sold the work for very
little. The amount was only enough for a single meal. By the end of the day the
thief was again starving. He decided to go to his brother for dinner to eat.
The thief walked and walked and walked..
His brother was a kind man and let him
eat dinner.
At
the dinner table, the brother had another guest whom the thief did not know.
The brother brought the food and each man
ate until everyone was satisfied. The thief began to talk to the guest and saw
the guest was a great man.
Everything about the guest was great. The
thief saw his new friend as the most amazing man he had ever met.
The painter and the thief talked, And
talked… and even took a long walk… When they came back, the brother did
something the thief did not understand. He brought all the material needed for
the guest to paint. The painter began to paint.
The painter put all his passion into each
stroke.
Slowly the canvas came to life, it also
began to look familiar.
Suddenly the thief was stunned!
The piece that the thief had stolen and
sold was made again like new before his very eyes!
It was the same piece he had sold. He saw
the painting in a whole new way.
The colors seemed brighter and more
beautiful. Each detail seemed more beautiful. Everything about the painting was
beautiful.
The thief was in awe and loved his new
friend. The man also saw that he had wronged a friend. In spite of the change
the thief ran away. His brother could not say why he ran out. As the thief left
his brother’s house he promised himself he would never steal again. The thief
went to his home again. For another night he tossed and turned over for what he
had done with no relief.
He decided to go back in the morning.
The next day he went to his brother’s
house to find his new friend.
He knocked on the door and his brother
let him in.
He asked “Where is the painter? The man
asked. The brother said, “He is not here, he left this morning.”
He has returned his house, I believe if
you keep looking for him; you will find him.
I will go with you.
When they got close. The thief ran up to
his house and knocked on the door. The painter answered.
“How are you doing my son?” The Painter
said.
Suddenly the thief began to tear up.
The thief fell to his knees in
repentance. He confessed to the painter he had stolen the painting. The man was
in tears.
The painter invited him into the house.
The thief stayed on his knees. All he could see in the house was the painting
and the painter. He wanted the painting.
He did not have the heart to steal it from the painter or afford the painting
from his new friend. He asked the painter, “Lord make me your servant. That I
may know your work better. I do not deserve your grace, I would work night and
day for that painting. I could never afford it on my own.“
The painter smiled, stood silent and
walked over to the man. The thief knew he could not get the old painting back.
The thief was sad. The painter went to
his knees and said, “Stand up, my son I forgive you.“ The gracious painter
lifted him up and said, “ for since you confessed your wrong in your heart, I
shall not count it against you. I can
make any display over like new. Here is the piece--your brother wanted it made
for you.”
The painter’s new friend took his gift.
The work was done. He was grateful for the painter’s love.
The thief knew he deserved prison but the
painter let him be free. He never had a gift like it. He could never sell the
painting now. The new man jumped for joy and happiness filled him. Each one
celebrated.
The brother then said, “that piece is
priceless as you now know and the more you look at it the value to you only
grows. That piece will feed you forever for people will come far and wide just
to see one of the painter’s displays in order to know him better.
So if we keep in mind what the painter
does. We will all grow too…
Invitation
So look at this story as the real one. As
it does to me, your mom and you.
The painter is real, no matter what
anyone says.
He died on a cross for you.
He really did live so my sin could be
taken away..
It was Jesus Christ, who is my painter;
painted me a picture and saved the day. We stole the picture, the gospel, like
a thief just wanting a single meal. The Lord has a banquet always-- prepared
for me, no painting do I need to steal.
My grief is gone, I no longer hunger and
because of Christ-- my heart is healed. He forgives all who come to him with a
loving and sincere heart. So believe that he lives and ask him into your heart.
Dear Jesus,
I am a sinner. Who has done some things
wrong.
I am not perfect. God open my eyes. God show me what your like.
Please forgive me of my sin. Let me know
Jesus that you live again. I need you Jesus in my life. For you are the
greatest God, my pearl of great price.
I accept you as you are. You are the
risen Savior. The Lord of my Heart.
