Words Explaining the Works

In appreciation of Mondrian, de Kooning, and Pollock, three among many who captured the spirit of the age, visually conveying what authors expressed in writing and musicians communicated through music. The careers of these artists spanned approximately six decades, from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, encompassing two world wars. A Dutchman, Piet Mondrian (1872–1944), paved the way for a Dutch-American, Willem de Kooning (1904–1997), who in turn paved the way for an American, Jackson Pollock (1912–1956). Experimenting with the use of shapes, colors, and application, each painter found a groundbreaking form of expression. The work of all three has influenced the definition of art as we know it. Their paintings recorded the direction of societal thought. Diverse influences filtered through each mind and given expression on canvas preserved a way of relating to the time in which they lived. Art that exists to express the spirit of the age requires thought to make sense of it, much like life itself. Relatable artistic expression speaks about the world we share and the ongoing quest for meaning. Sometimes, there is meaning behind art, and sometimes there isn't. The original Creator’s authorial intent was and is life forevermore. Psalm 111:10 offers peace to those struggling to find purpose: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; All those who follow His commandments have a good understanding; His praise endures forever.” And Romans 9:10 provides the means: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The first two people appear translucent as they leave paradise and fade from the scene. Moses described how they disobeyed their Creator in Genesis chapter 3, bringing a curse upon the earth and death to everyone. Despite being warned, they failed to obey in gratitude for the gift of life, the joy of knowing God, and a home in paradise. Adam's sin brought death into the world (Romans 5:12), but there is good news: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by giving His life to pay the debt each of us owes. The penalty for disobedience to God's word is the same for everyone born, just as it was for Adam and Eve. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and rose from the dead on behalf of all who would ever believe in Him.

Humanity's journey from life to death and back again through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ was initiated by the first man, Adam, who was made in God’s image, but his rebellion shattered the reflection, leaving him in dire need of forgiveness from his Creator. God was merciful and promised a Savior who would pay the penalty for Adam’s transgression, which is death, so that all of Adam’s descendants who believe could be forgiven.

A hominid reflects on the experience of transitioning from being an animal as he jots notes in his memoirs. Conveniently, according to the dominant view of human origins, the first humans were too primitive to record history and therefore lost the right to speak about their experiences, leaving room for science to speak on their behalf, even to the point of calling our ancestors animals and assuming millions of years for their humanity to develop. The exponential expansion of this story began with the proposition that the Earth had accumulated deep, undisturbed layers in the past, a past that must have encompassed long ages. The idea offered an alternative perspective on human origins, directly contradicting the commonly accepted view of reliable biblical truth: In the beginning, God created everything. As the story expanded, one notable contributor added the observation of dissimilarity in finch beaks on a remote island. Forward momentum led to the idea of a singularity containing all that would ever be known as life on Earth, and although it was intended to explain the origin of matter, it failed to do so. A new breed of Enlightenment thinkers and modern experts rejected the existence of God and took the wide path, while others, such as Newton and Mendel, chose the narrow road and adhered to a worldview founded on belief in God, our Creator. Humans, once again trying to elevate themselves above God’s knowledge, continued their pointless quest for wisdom without understanding. Baseless biases led to a foolish story about apes turning into humans and humans becoming sovereigns. Every human with any degree of intelligence has the right to ponder theories made about our origins. Experts are not always intelligent in their approach to discovering the truth; often, the very concept of truth is questioned by the same people who claim to know and proclaim it.