For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
It was a lovely drawing of a rabbit, but our grandson was not satisfied with it yet. There were things he wanted to add, details to apply, things he wanted to do to enhance aspects of the drawing. He’s just like all artists who are never truly finished with any work of art but can always see ways to improve on what they have created. God also has works of art that are not yet finished. Look into your mirror and see one of them. Our text speaks of God’s workmanship, a word that includes the meaning of a project or artistic endeavour. As long as we are alive, God will continue to apply His finishing touches to us, to bring out the good works that He has saved us to do.
Before you and I could be of any use to God, He had to make radical changes in us. Unconverted, we were worse than useless to God, helpless, hopeless, and antagonistic, with no ability or desire to do good works. But that has all changed: ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is what is meant by being ‘created in Christ Jesus unto good works’. Our transformation from sinner into saint, from children of wrath into children of God means that we are now capable of pleasing God. We are also capable of wanting to please God. Our transformation into the image of Christ brings us a little closer to what the Lord Jesus was able to say, ‘I do always those things that please the Father’ (John 8:29). No, we can’t say that yet ourselves, but God is still putting His finishing touches on us.
God has ordained that we should walk in good works. What does that mean? Simply put, it is the purpose for which He has saved us, and it is His greatest desire for our lives. That is because what God wants us to do will result in the greatest and best use of our lives, the greatest glory to Himself, and the greatest reward for us. The life that God desires for us means submission to His will, obedience to His Word, and a passion for His purposes. Self is pushed to the background and Christ is given the place of prominence. The good works that God has created us to perform will flow from our submission to Him in all things.
How much of Christ do others see in us? Are we allowing ourselves to mess up the lovely workmanship that He is seeking to produce in us? -Jim MacIntosh