In the Vatican art collection sits Michelangelo's Pieta, a marble statue of Mary in anguish as she holds her crucified son. It's regarded as a masterpiece. A number of years ago a visitor to the gallery took a sledgehammer and started smashing the statue. By the time the guards got to him the damage was extensive. But it wasn't irreparable. The Vatican's artists were able to restore the Pieta to near-perfect condition.
Application: Growth/Sanctification/Christlikeness/Image of God/Spirit. According to Scripture we are God's workmanship, God's work of art, created to reflect his character on earth. Sadly, sin has taken a sledgehammer to us. But the Spirit is like those workmen restoring us to the image of Jesus.
Application: Environment. The earth is God's masterpiece. Sadly, we humans have taken to it with a sledgehammer. God however is about the work of restoring creation to his original plan.
Application: Salvation/Eschatology/Hope. God's work of salvation is to take all of us and all of creation and restore it, just as those artists restored that sculpture.
Source: Reported in John Ortberg, The Life You've Always Wanted.