The Masterpiece

by Francine Rivers

  Tuck Martin was talking with Roman now, another journalist involved in their conversation. Where once Roman had been reticent to share anything about himself, he now spoke freely about God and how Christ had become the center and purpose of both his life and his art. Some invented other explanations about Roman’s near-death experience, but his transformed life testified to the truth of it.

  Grace often marveled at the changes in her life and Roman’s. They talked about moving back to Los Angeles, but for now had decided to stay in Merced. Roman knew what it meant to Grace to stay the course at UC Merced and earn her degree. She was taking it slow, making Samuel and Hannah her first priority.

  Needing space for Roman to work and with a new baby on the way, they had bought a house on the outskirts of town. Roman converted an upstairs rec room into his studio and made the attached RV garage into a man cave complete with a sound system and a variety of gym equipment. Samuel loved hanging out with Daddy, and, equipped with a safety harness, he could climb to the top of the rock wall, snap on the ceiling loop, and bungee jump. Roman laughed at his squeals of excitement as he bounced up and down until Roman caught hold and unhooked him for another climb. Roman’s injured leg kept him from running, but he worked out daily and had the upper body strength to climb with Samuel or go up a salmon ladder or across a cliffhanger bolted into the side wall.

  When their pastor felt called to teach at a Midwest Christian college, a pastoral search committee started looking for a replacement. They wanted a pastor who could teach the Word, encourage the aging congregation, and reach the younger, unchurched, and lost generations. Roman knew Brian’s congregation was merging with Victory Outreach and texted him about the opening in Merced. Brian said he and Shanice would pray about it. A short time later, they came up for a visit and attended church with Roman and Grace. A couple weeks after that, Brian submitted his résumé, was invited to preach, and soon after, they offered him the senior pastor position in Merced. The Gerlings gave them the bungalow, rent-free, until they could find a home. Brian wasted no time in drafting Roman into ministry. The two men helped an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship group on the UC campus. They also found local hot spots that attracted high school students. Roman’s man cave became a favorite meeting place; Samuel, the youth group mascot.

  Grace felt Roman’s arm slip around her. “I see someone I want you to meet.” He excused them and led her to a middle-aged couple who had just come through the front door.

  The man saw Roman coming and held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry to crash your party. Don’t call the cops on me.”

  Roman laughed. “Hope you left your handcuffs at home. Grace, this is the police officer who busted me in the tunnel.” He winced as he faced the man again. “Never did get your name.”

  The man winked at Grace. “He was too nervous to ask. LeBron Williams, and this is my wife, Althea, your number one fan.”

  Althea held out her hand. “I’ve been hoping to meet you for years.”

  “Stop gushing, honey. You’ll embarrass the man.”

  Althea rolled her eyes and addressed Grace. “I kept an eye out for the Bird’s work. We kept the secret until he did that interview.”

  LeBron snorted. “She’s been bragging on me netting the Bird ever since.”

  “I could’ve killed him when he came home and told me he’d met you, and didn’t even have an autographed slip of paper to show for it.” Althea shook her head and gave her husband a teasing smile. “LeBron used to do a bit of graffiti back in the day.” She looked at Roman. “He took me to see the mural on that industrial building. And we’ve been down the art walk several times. Are you planning to do another?”

  “A wall. In Oakland. Spring break. Already have site approval and a crew lined up.” Roman looked at LeBron. “There’s always room for another worker. All you have to do is color inside the lines.” Grace asked for their contact information and told Althea she’d send all the details.

  The woman looked like she’d been handed two tickets for an all-expenses-paid, around-the-world cruise. “We’ll be there!”

  “Just the way I want to spend Easter. Back in the hood.” LeBron grinned. “Come on, honey. The man has to mingle.” He shook Roman’s hand again. “Keep up the good work, Mr. Velasco.”

  Another art critic wanted a word with Roman. Grace wandered the gallery and ended up at World Changers again. “It’s magnificent.” Shanice stood beside her, having handed off Caleb to his daddy.

  “It’s so different from what he was painting when I met him.” But then, so was Roman. So was she.

  God had been drawing them to Him from the time they were children, both desperately in need and longing for a father. Long before they knew Him, He’d been at work in their lives. The Lord had promised those who believe that He would take away the stony, stubborn heart; give them a tender, responsive heart; and put His Spirit in them so they could follow Him.

  How many times over the last three years had Grace watched Roman in wonder as she witnessed the fulfillment of that promise? She had seen that same astonishing transformation in others as well. Shanice, once a party girl, now a pastor’s wife; Aunt Elizabeth, embittered and cynical, unable to love, now at peace, an affectionate aunt and granny, unafraid to open her heart to others. Grace’s own life had begun with a childhood of fear and violence, and an aunt who couldn’t bear to look at her, but felt duty bound to fulfill a sister’s wishes. The nighttime visitor had opened her heart to the Lord, though it had taken a painful journey to learn He was trustworthy.

  Shanice studied the painting. “The longer you look at it, the more you see. Everyone is calling it a masterpiece.”

  “It is wonderful. It’s the best work Roman has done so far.” An overwhelming joy filled Grace. “But it’s just a shadow to the real one.” Roman would understand what she meant. “It isn’t what Roman’s done, Shanice. It’s what God has done in Roman.” She took her friend’s hand. “It’s what God has done in my life and yours, and Aunt Elizabeth’s and so many others we know.” Tears filled her eyes as Grace felt the future open before her, like a door to life and hope and the never-ending life Jesus offered them. “We’re all God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ.”

  Shanice squeezed Grace’s hand. “For His good purpose.”

  “When I look at this painting, I’m amazed at what God has done.” Grace glanced over her shoulder at Roman and Brian, in conversation with Tuck Martin. Roman caught her look and smiled at her before refocusing on the two men talking.

  Even here and now the Lord was working on another masterpiece.

  DEAR READER,

  Writing The Masterpiece has been a long journey. The characters and story have morphed several times, as seems always to be the case when I write a novel. The questions that started the project had to do with how childhood trauma can impact an adult life. It seems our culture is filled with damaged people from broken homes and relationships. I wanted to explore two individuals and how traumatic childhood experiences impact their adult thinking and behavior. Can they have a normal life? Can two broken individuals find wholeness together? With Christ, all things are possible, but what if faith is lacking?

  Grace came to faith at a young age, but Christians aren’t perfect. We’re in a spiritual battle all our lives with an active, cunning adversary: Satan. I wanted readers to see how easily we can fall into traps and be seduced by worldly philosophies. Even when we are saved by grace, we suffer consequences. God comforts us, loves us, and shows us the way to walk through this life.

  Roman had to learn the hard way. Some people have to go to hell before they can see or hear the truth.

  The prevailing cultural view seems to be everyone will go to heaven no matter what they’ve done or not done or what they believe. Advocates of this belief say God is love, and there is no hell. In truth, Jesus talked more about hell than He did about heaven. Research showed me there are near-death experiences that are not full of light and joy, but are horrific and terrif
ying.

  It is absolutely true God is love, but a text taken out of context is a pretext. God is also just. He is holy. He is righteous. Sin brought death to Adam and Eve—and to all of us. This life is not all there is. The wages of sin is death, and hell comes after. God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins, in blood, so that we can be saved out of death into life eternal in heaven with Him—if we believe in Jesus’ work on the cross. It is a matter of choice. Believe and be saved. Reject Him and spend eternity in hell. Jesus has done everything needed to keep us safe, to give us a future and a hope. Jesus did not come to enhance our lives. He came to save us.

  This is one of the reasons I wrote The Masterpiece. It isn’t only about two broken people trying to find wholeness together. It’s about where wholeness can be found for each and every one of us. In Christ Jesus. No place else.

  If you want to know why you are here, what you were meant to do, where to find love that lasts forever, and what the meaning of life is, seek the Lord. He has all the answers you need. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

  Francine Rivers

  What were your initial impressions of Roman? Of Grace? Did your impressions change throughout the story, and if so, how and why?

  When Roman offers to let Grace live in the guest cottage, she struggles with whether to accept. She tells her friends she’s been praying about it but hasn’t felt like she’s received a clear answer, except that other opportunities she explores don’t seem to come to fruition. If you were Grace, would you have taken that as a clear answer from God? Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you ultimately make a decision?

  At the end of chapter 5, Grace has conflicting thoughts when she finds out about Patrick’s betrayal. What did you hope she’d do? Why?

  What do you think it means that Grace notices details in Roman’s work that no one else sees?

  Grace remembers that Patrick “hadn’t forced her to give up anything, but he’d known how to make her feel guilty enough to surrender all her dreams so he could attain his.” Are you or someone you know being manipulated by false guilt? Why is this such a convenient tactic for manipulation—or even to make us doubt our own actions and decisions? How can we combat it?

  When Grace asks Roman what he believes, he says, “We’re born. We survive as best we can. We die. End of story.” Have you ever felt that way, or known someone who did? How did Roman’s response make you feel? Sum up your own beliefs in a short statement like Roman’s.

  Susan tells Grace that if Roman can’t let go of his past, he will never reach his full potential, and Grace knows the same applies to her. What elements of their pasts do each of them need to let go of? How do we see this happening in the story? Are there things in your past that you need to let go of?

  After Roman and Grace visit Aunt Elizabeth, Grace shares her experience about an angel visiting her as a child, which opened her heart to the Lord. Have you or a friend ever had a supernatural experience like this? If you’re comfortable doing so, share it with the group.

  Roman did not have a supernatural experience as a child, or anything that specifically pointed him to Christ. Are there indications that God was indeed looking out for him, just as He was looking out for Grace? Can you look back on your own life and see ways that God was guiding or protecting you, even without supernatural intervention?

  Grace wonders why she couldn’t see the truth about Patrick, and in chapter 26, Aunt Elizabeth comments to Miranda that Leanne couldn’t see the similarities between her husband and their abusive father, either. Why do you think that is?

  When Roman asks why he didn’t know Jasper was a Christian, Jasper responds, “You never asked, and anytime I brought up spiritual matters, your eyes glazed over. There’s a time for everything under the sun, Bobby Ray. The time never seemed quite right with you.” What are some reasons for waiting until someone is ready to hear the gospel? What are some reasons for sharing the truth, whether a person seems ready or not? How can we know which is best?

  Jasper tells Roman, “Faith is just the beginning of a long, difficult journey.” How does this play out in Roman’s life after his near-death experience? In what ways have you seen the truth of this in your own faith journey?

  After Roman’s near-death experience, he is left with a chronic leg injury that the doctors can’t explain. How did you feel about this element of the story? Why do you think the author chose to include it?

  What is Roman’s intent when he suggests to Grace that they become “more intimate”? How is this different for him from the casual hookups he’s had until now? Why is it still not enough for Grace?

  Aunt Elizabeth tells Grace, “I’m an architect when it comes to building walls.” The same could be said of both Grace and Roman, as well as many people in real life. In what areas do you build walls? What are some ways you’ve found to begin to tear them down, either in your own life or the life of someone close to you?

  THE LORD HAS WAYS of putting people together in times of need, and while working on The Masterpiece, I needed to talk with a real-life graffiti artist. When painters came to work on our house, I met a young man who had been a gang tagger in the Bay Area as a teenager, but graffiti had been a passing phase in his life, and I was looking for someone dedicated to the art form.

  Along came a couple from Monterey who contacted me through my website, asking if I’d be willing to meet with students from the Czech Republic, many of whom had been reading my novels. Rick and I said yes, and arranged to spend the weekend. The Wongs hosted a luncheon gathering at their home for a Q & A. During the conversation, students asked me what I was writing. I gave them a brief synopsis of this novel. Before we left, the Wongs told me they had a friend in San Francisco, Cameron Moberg, a Christian who also happened to be a graffiti artist.

  CAMERON AND FRANCINE

  I fired off an e-mail. Would Mr. Moberg be willing to answer some questions? Cameron said yes. I checked out his work online and found it stunning. The more I learned about this young man, the more he seemed to be living out my protagonist’s journey. Especially the epilogue. I sent pictures to friends at Tyndale. Cameron now has fans at the publishing house. They contacted him about using his artwork on the cover of The Masterpiece, which was exactly what I hoped would happen.

  Unfortunately, Cameron and I didn’t have time for a face-to-face meeting before he headed off for a project in Australia. The final manuscript was in the hands of my editor before Cameron and I were able to get together. But eventually Rick and I invited Cameron and his family for a Saturday afternoon picnic and swim. As soon as I opened the front door to greet them, I felt like I’d known the family for years. I think that’s the way it is when we meet Christian brothers and sisters, whether in the neighborhood or on the other side of the world. We are immediately connected. We have Jesus in common. We are family.

  ORIGINAL GRAFFITI ART USED ON THE COVER

  It was a hot day. We enjoyed hot dogs, watermelon, and watching Cameron and Crystal’s two boys swim. We older folks sat in the shade and chatted. We certainly didn’t lack for conversation, and I felt the Lord in our midst. When Cameron suggested Rick and I come down and have a lesson in graffiti painting, I said yes. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a few cans of spray paint and have the opportunity to experiment.

  Check out Cameron’s work online at www.camer1.com.

  New York Times bestselling author FRANCINE RIVERS had a successful writing career in the general market for several years before becoming a born-again Christian. As her statement of faith, she wrote Redeeming Love, a retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush. Redeeming Love is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction, and it continues to be one of the industry’s top-selling titles year after year.

  Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numer
ous novels with Christian themes—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the world. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

  Francine’s novels have been translated into over thirty different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries.

  Francine and her husband live in northern California and enjoy time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. She uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and she desires that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.

  Visit her website at www.francinerivers.com and connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers) and Twitter (@FrancineRivers).

  BOOKS BY BELOVED AUTHOR

  FRANCINE RIVERS

  The Mark of the Lion series

  (available individually or in a collection)

  A Voice in the Wind

  An Echo in the Darkness

  As Sure as the Dawn

  A Lineage of Grace series

  (available individually or in an anthology)

  Unveiled

  Unashamed

  Unshaken

  Unspoken

  Unafraid

  Sons of Encouragement series

  (available individually or in an anthology)

  The Priest

  The Warrior