For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
We can appreciate this verse more by looking at other translations. The King James Version says, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The word that I like in this translation is the word ordained. “…God ordained before hand.” The Living Translation is amazing. It uses the word “masterpiece” instead of workmanship. Masterpiece is a work of art. We are God’s masterpiece.
The original word used for workmanship or masterpiece in Ephesians 2:10 is poeima, where our English word poem came from. Poeima means “made, crafted, or composed.” Poems are painting of words in rhyme and rhythm. Every stroke of words paints the emotions of the poet. Amazingly, many of our hymns are great poems of great Christian men and women. God is the Master Poet. The One who paints the sky and universe create poems. The amazing thing is that He wants to compose a poem out of our lives. You are God’s poem. You are God’s masterpiece. Today, we will appreciate God’s workmanship.
I. His Theme
"...we are God's workmanship." You are the theme or subject of God’s work. It may be as though our lives are tattered with imperfections and confusion. But still you are God’s masterpiece. You are God’s work of art. God is at work in our lives. Just like an unfinished work, we may not see the whole picture of God’s masterpiece. Above us may be clouds of problems and confusing circumstances. The Scripture reminds us that we are in the hands of the Master Poet. This is what makes the Christian life exciting. God chose and picked up pieces of our lives to display His beauty and creativity. As art in the hands of the Master Artist, we bear God’s signature.
II. God’s creativity.
"...Created in Christ Jesus to do good works." As a masterpiece, we bear the marks of God’s creativity. Many Christians are amazingly transformed by God’s grace. You can almost see God working in their lives. Other verses where the word poeima is used are in Romans 1:20 which speaks of the original creation and 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! “
In God’s creativity, God paints Christ in our lives. Our society has become more and more self-centered. We bring glory to ourselves instead of bringing glory to God. The Scripture warns, “Be not conformed to this world’ (Romans 12). God’s work is not self-centered. It is Christ-centered. As God’s masterpiece, we reflect His signature in our lives.
III.God’s Edition
"...to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." King James Version has it, God hath before ordained.
Greg Laurie says, “…Jesus looks at you and doesn't see you just for what you are. He sees you for what you can become. We see a lump of clay; God sees a beautiful vase. We see a blank canvas; God sees a finished painting. We see a lump of coal; God sees a refined diamond. We see problems; God sees solutions. We see failures; God sees potential success. We see a Jacob; God sees an Israel. We see a Simon; God sees an apostle Peter.”
You and I are unfinished poems composed by the Master Poet. Sometimes, it seems that the events surrounding us don’t rhyme with how we think things should be. But He is far wiser than we are. When the day is done, we cannot imagine the beauty that He has done in our lives. His ways are always right.
