Photogenic

Impressing God with all those facts you have stored in your brain is not likely. The internet or a public library are both places where facts and knowledge abound. The facts stored there exceed what you know and are growing faster than your knowledge base can expand. Besides, God knows all that and more. There is nothing on or off this planet He does not already fully comprehend. He has all the facts and understands what they mean as well. He is brilliant!

Pleasing God with what you have stored in your heart, however, does have a higher probability. Jesus said out of our hearts come those things which please and honor the heavenly Father. When we desire what God desires, our hearts are aligned with His, and we have His promise to receive what we together are both longing for.

A proud grandpa related to me his grandchild’s almost astounding ability to hear once and then recall a song. He misspoke, describing this mental agility as “photogenic memory” when he meant “photographic memory.” Who knows, maybe the kid was good looking and talented? Referring to an individual’s ability to hear and recall completely what they have heard, I wonder if for the sake of exactness we should coin the phrase “audiographic memory”?

This series of thoughts took me in a new direction. With what I retain in my heart and God’s ability to recall all He sees there, does God view the content of my soul as photogenic? When He looks at me, does He find the view picturesque? He would if my heart flowed to the themes His heart prizes. You know, it’s true - beauty is in the eye of The Beholder.

Tim Gramly
Education Pastor, SHBC
July 7, 2009