The Special of the Day... From the Orange Moon Cafe...
"The Necktie (And what It Reveals)"
Men's neckties are believed to have originated in the 17th century when King Louis XIII hired Croatian mercenaries to help France in wartime. The soldiers wore a piece of colorful cloth around their necks to secure their jacket collars, and also as decoration. The King liked the look of the adornment, and made neckties a mandatory accessory for royal gatherings.
While the Croatians may have used worn ties for functional purposes, most of history simply chronicles their decorative use. Indeed, a beautiful necktie, in my opinion, has a place on dress occasions for men no less important than a beautiful suit, shirt, and shoes. I actually have a collection of Christmas ties I wear in December that serve as a favorite part of reflecting the beauty of the season, and far more, of the season's Inspiration.
"God… giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (I Timothy 6:17).
I share this with you to illustrate the truth that God made His universe not only for function, but also for beauty. He made our eyes to see color, shape, depth, and movement. He made our ears to hear melody and harmony as well as words. He made us to smell fragrances, to taste food, and to enjoy textures with senses that reveal how much our Lord desires human hearts to realize the love and artistry of His heart. "He hath made everything beautiful in His time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
This says so very much about our glorious God. He made angels, human beings, and creation for decorative purposes, as it were, as well as for function. By this, we simply mean that our Lord possesses a creative and artistic heart of joy that perfectly correlates with His being an architect, engineer, and builder of immeasurable ability. When creating the human race in His image, He made us with capabilities meant to be empowered by His Spirit for both art and achievement. He desires that we do, and that we do with wonder, appreciation, and the happiness that coincides with both function and enjoyment. This can only be understood in terms of love, namely, that God loves human beings so dearly, He desires us to know the joy He knows as both an engineer and artist.
"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).
I suppose the necktie in its present application serves as a small and perhaps silly way to illustrate the truth we consider. It does remind me, however, that God made His creation with what we might call "accessories," that is, things that exist not for the universe to operate, but for its occupants to enjoy and rejoice. He made us to know the joy He knows in His triune being as the good and great Lord He is. The Psalmist well knew this, and let us join him in the joyous exultation that will grace our hearts as we realize the Love that made us for both function and beauty....
"For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work."
(Psalm 92:4)
Weekly Memory Verse
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.
(Psalm 28:7)
6158
No comments:
Post a Comment