The Creation of Adam

Date:1510

Artist: Michelangelo Buonarroti

Location: The Sistine Chapel, Rome

Medium: Fresco

Dimensions: 280 cm * 570 cm

Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostril, and the man became a living person.” (1)

Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most famous works of art in all history, and is one of my personal favorites. The symbolic story content of this piece speaks to me on so many levels. Although the fresco depicts God’s initial creation of Adam and the touch that will fill him with life and energy, I tend to think about the touch of God in my own life, and how everyone needs this touch of God in their lives in order to truly live. The way God is flying towards Adam, reaching with all his might, while Adam is lounging, limply lifting his hand to meet God’s reminds me of my own life and my pathetic effort to connect with God. I am reminded that God is doing all the work and how desperately I need him. The intensity and suspense of the painting as it is so close to the time when the two hands will meet, fills me with the desire to see the moment when they will connect and Adam will truly live. I can relate to this in my own life when I feel dead inside and need a fresh touch from God. This is my prayer/story:

God thank you so much for giving me life. I thank you so much for creating me. By you and through you all things were made. With your hands you molded Adam in your likeness. He lay there limp and lifeless. You gave life and light to everything that was made, through your touch. You breathed on man, and his lifeless form sprung to life. All was well, your creation was good. And yet sin entered the world…

And its wages are death. The touch was corrupted. What once was the good and perfect life was now infected with a terminal disease. My life source is cut off!  I need you again God! Redeem me from my sin! I am trapped. I have no power to climb out of this pit on my own. I scrape at the walls like a wounded animal, I shall never escape. My will is so weak. I am destined to despair, to weather an existence devoid of true life. I am a slave to sin. I am unholy and cannot stand within your presence oh God. The chains of sin which bind me keep me far from God’s extended hand. Who then shall deliver me from this death?

Thanks be to Jesus Christ my mighty and wonderful redeemer! You loved the world so much that you sent your only son. With your death on the cross Jesus you broke these chains and once again enabled this life giving touch. Covered by your blood, we can once again stand before the Father, reach out, and touch his life giving fingers. Thank you so much for your redeeming power in my life God. You are the source of all love, truth, and hope in my life. Without your life giving touch I am nothing and have nothing. I would be constantly descending down a dark path into an endless pit of sin and despair. You, oh Jesus, have saved my soul. And yet I am far from perfect…

The process is ongoing. Every day, every second, in every decision, and in every thought I must reach out to you God and receive your life giving touch. And yet my human will remains week, I fill my life  with garbage, and only raise a limp hand to you God. Thank you so much God for pursuing me. You are the one who is flying towards my lifeless soul that is reclining on the ground. I must seek you God! I must draw near to you God so that that you will draw near to me. I must reach out so that our fingers will touch and your abundant power and life will flow into me once again. And God let these touches change me so that I may live a life worthy of the calling I have received; give me the power and desire to follow you! I want to run the race with endurance and finish the course, so that on the day we meet face to face you will say “Well done my good and faithful servant.” So God, touch me like you touched Adam, breath life into this dry and thirsty soul once more!

Bibliography

(1)  The Holy Bibile. New Living Translation. 2^nd Edition. 2004. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Steam, IL.