visual aid

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

Ephesians 2:4-5

Don’t you love a good visual aid? Maybe it’s some awesome presentation graphic that allows you to quickly grasp the lecturer’s complex point. Or those illustrated assembly instructions that show you step by step how to build your latest furniture purchase. (We could have a long discussion of the quality and nature of said instructions, but suffice it to say, we’ve all seen a wide range of clarity!) Whether you’re the teacher (giver) or the student (receiver) of a concept, having an image to refer to helps you understand, remember, and explain it.

Since becoming a believer, fully surrendering my life to Jesus Christ, my primary go-to scripture was Jesus’ healing encounter with the blind man (John 9). Not only was this my eye-opening, eternity-changing, gospel revolution, but it’s a clear and simple concept to share with others: I may not totally understand everything about the Christian faith, but I do know that “though I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25). So, what do I see? Well, no matter how hard I tried to fill that God-shaped hole in my soul (and heaven knows, I tried everything), my pining was for peace with God—the righting of a relationship with Him that is broken because of sin. And we can never be or do good enough to fix that! God requires perfect righteousness, and that’s impossible for us. But God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and then die the death we deserve—paying the penalty for our sin. Then He rose again, victorious over death and sin, making a way of reconciliation with God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 2:18-20). You and I don’t have to work for or earn this saving grace—it’s a free gift! This, dear friend, is the gospel. 

And, because I do love a good visual aid, I got a tattoo about 15 years ago that testified to the gospel. It exclaims: “I am paid in full.” But the word is in Greek, which I thought would instigate all kinds of opportunities to share the Truth of Jesus. Yeah, doesn’t really happen. But, for me, it was a necessary permanent proclamation in stark contrast to my first tattoo, which I designed to illustrate the lie I used to believe, that all world religions were just different paths to God…who, ultimately, is you. (This was all well before the “COEXIST” bumper sticker was a thing.)

Over the past few years, as I’ve been diving deeper into the Apostle Paul’s epistles and other New Testament books—and as my walk with the Lord has also been deepening—my understanding of the gospel and my own story continues to solidify (called “sanctification”). Yes, I was blind, and the Lord opened my eyes to the Truth. However, the older I get in my faith, it’s also gets clearer and clearer to me that I was not just blind—I was dead (Ephesians 2:1). I was darkness—not just in darkness (Ephesians 5:8). A walking dead person in this world and destined to be eternally dead (and suffering) outside the presence of God. When we give our lives over to Christ, we are made new—we are brought to life and to light (Ephesians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Now, I love me some Apostle Paul for a gazillion reasons. But I have a special affinity for his book to the Ephesians. Particularly chapter 2, verses 1-10. It not only shares the gospel (we are saved by grace through faith, not by works), but it beautifully tells of my story—and yours. We were dead, and now we’re alive in Christ! And it all hinges on one of the most beautiful phrases in the entire Bible: BUT GOD. 

A new illustrative depiction started forming in my mind. It went through many iterations, various church-notebook sketches. But then I landed on something and wasn’t able to let it go. So, now I have a new visual aid on my right upper arm. It is my story. It is the gospel. And it’s all because of the rich mercy and great love of God. Like any good visual aid, it lends to understanding, remembrance, and explanation. And whether or not people ask me about my new tattoo, I pray it gives me the boldness to share its Truth with the multitudes of walking dead around me.

Lord, whether saved at age 5 or 55, every one of us has a story like the blind man who was healed by Jesus. May we have the boldness to share Your great love, mercy, and grace with others—with or without a visual aid.