For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.
Ephesians 2:10
“Who am I?” asks the question about my identity. “What am I here for?” asks the question regarding my purpose. 1 Peter 2:9-10 explains that we are a chosen generation who once were not a people, but now are the people of God.
Looking earlier in Ephesians 2, we also see that:
- We were dead, but now we are alive.
- We were disobedient, but now we walk according to the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
- We were deluded, but now have an understanding.
- We were doomed, but now have been delivered from condemnation.
Notice the difference of the past and present tense in Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”
We Are His Workmanship
We are God’s work of art, His masterpiece. We are a creation of Almighty God who made heaven and in Christ you are reborn, recreated to restore the image that was lost in the fall of mankind. God planned your destiny before the world began; you have an eternal purpose, not only for the life but the next. Why? Because you belong to God – God made you for such a time as this. You are not a mistake or unplanned, as nothing is unplanned by God. He knows the end from the beginning, not the beginning to the end. He knows the end result of His masterpiece (Philippians 1:6). One day the scaffolding will come down, and you will be a bride without a spot or blemish. Nothing takes God by surprise – He knows all your steps.
We Are Created In Christ Jesus For Good Works
When a person believes in Jesus Christ, God creates Him in Christ. We don’t work for our salvation, we work out our salvation. The works in our lives which God created for us in Christ Jesus will confirm the reality of our faith; it is not faith and works, it is faith that works.
You may feel rejected by family and friends, but you are never rejected by God, because God had a plan for your life before you were born (Psalm 139:13-16). You are unique and loved by God, no one else can do what God has called you to do.
We Are Saved For Good Works
We need to understand we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. The good news of the gospel actually states that we are being saved in order to be good. We are not created as His work of art just to be on display, like a piece of artwork in a museum. We are designed for action, His plans for our lives extends to us walking in good works, bearing fruit in our lives that will glorify Him.
Doing good is not an option for the believer, it is the very nature of the believer. We have God’s seed, His DNA, His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). God wants you to display His goodness, His grace to the broken world around us.
Being His workmanship, God has not given you a licence to behave any old way with no thought of the consequences; you have a responsibility to walk in the works that God has ordained for you (1 Peter 1:13-14).
We Should Walk In Good Works
We are called to fulfil our purpose and our destiny. Making an eternal impact is all about becoming and living out of who you are in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Making an eternal impact is less about you and more about the excellences of Him. It is about proclaiming with your life the depth of His power. In the workplace and in our communities, we need to show people that we are His workmanship.
Ask yourself, do I show the beauty of Christ in how I live? Are people attracted to me because they see something good?
Let God impact your life by the power of His Holy Spirit, walk in the good works that God has ordained for you.
Just as the beauty of artwork testifies to the skill of the artist, so will God’s work in your life bring Him praise and glory.
Walk in your destiny…