Soul Tattoo: A Life and Spirit Bearing the Marks of God

Top Highlights

“Tattoos are like the paintings of a novice trying to recreate the work of a master. The real Master, God, has painted us with dignity, life, and worth. Each of God’s paintings is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Only God’s paintings aren’t done on canvas—not even the canvas of our skin—but on the human soul. The Master has left his mark on every human soul, hidden beneath the surface, and tattoos are one of our desperate attempts to repaint what we sense is beneath. Every skin tattoo falls short of the real thing, but at least tattoos are trying to get at the real thing. Tattoos are tributes to and trophies of what it means to be human.” (source)

“Whereas a doctor attempts to heal the body by repairing its brokenness, the tattoo artist heals the soul by recording its longings on the surface of the skin.” (source)

“God is the ultimate tattoo artist, but his canvas goes deeper than skin. He stitches tattoos to the soul. One such tattoo reads, ‘You are mine.’ This is a permanent-ink truth that no exile can erase. We are God’s through creation, formation, redemption, and calling. Here’s how Isaiah put it: ‘But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine’’ (Isa. 43:1).” (source)

“This means that if anything is here in this world, not only did God bring it here, but also he wanted it here. Maybe you need to read that last sentence again. For if you’re here, living and breathing, there’s only one reason why: God wanted you here. You are no accident; you were not created by random elements; you were not a mistake. God sang you into this world by his powerful word and will. You can never say that no one wants you here, because God would beg to differ. You can’t erase the soul tattoo that says ‘You are mine.’” (source)