God"s Masterpiece

Chuckle: When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised. "mine says I'm four to six."

Quote: "The visible marks of extraordinary wisdom and power appear so plainly in all the works of creation that a rational creature who will but seriously reflect on them cannot miss the discovery of the Deity." --John Loche

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago" (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

The Greek word translated as "masterpiece" is the same word translated as "poem." In its broadest meaning, it describes God's poem, work of art, workmanship, His perfect masterpiece. When we fully grasp the significance of this miracle God performs in our lives, our love and appreciation for Him will know no bounds.

Have you ever thought of yourself as God's crowning creative act? We all share in being the crown jewel of His physical creation, and when we are created anew in Christ, we become God's ultimate and crowning creative work -- the people God intended us to be from the beginning. We are made new from the inside out by the Holy Spirit working in us. Do you fully understand how important you are to God, and what He has done for you through Jesus Christ? Our salvation is something that only God can accomplish; and as He does His creative work in us, we become His spiritual masterpiece.

Many places in Scripture we are told that it is because of God's great love that Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins. By God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ we are saved and created anew for God's purpose. As God's "new creation," the good things we do allow God's grace to flow through us and into the lives of others and display His creative handiwork to the world. Our transformation from a life of selfish and sinful self-centeredness to a life of Christ-likeness, in both our words and actions, bears witness to the love and power of our heavenly Father.

It's true that no action or work can help us attain salvation, but it is also true that God intends for our salvation (new creation) to result in selfless acts of service. In other words, we cannot be saved by doing good things, but we are saved to do good things which bless others and honor and glorify our Lord. We are saved for a purpose. Let's demonstrate the love of Christ so faithfully that everyone will know we are God's new creation in Christ Jesus -- His creative masterpiece.

Love, Jerry & Dotse