Break in Case of Emergency

Do you remember your first career day? Maybe first responders, bank tellers, and fancy businessmen lined the room and shared the joys of rescue, of crunching numbers, of leading a team and you remember thinking, “I want to do that, too!”

But somewhere along the way, the lines got a little blurry. The grind of life came into focus and you asked new questions: “What am I doing? What was I made for?”

Those are valid questions and important ones to answer correctly. So that is where we begin today, with very honest questions and a very real scriptural promise.

Summary

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

From this text, we find three truths to cling to:

1. His workmanship involves you.

2. God has prepared good works for you.

3. God desires that you would walk in them.

1. His workmanship involves you.

When you think of workmanship, think of a grand piece of art. Carefully crafted and considered by the artist—put together with intention. That is how we were made. Look at what it says in Genesis 1–

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

If you are reading this sentence now, you were crafted in the image of an Almighty God. Consider that for a moment. We can read that sentence, look around and think, “Even me?” but this promise is not only scriptural, it’s personal.

Even when sin entered the scene in Genesis 3, God didn’t vacate His plan to use His people. In fact, Genesis 3:15 paints a picture of Jesus’ ultimate defeat of Satan.

As we occupy imperfect bodies, in an imperfect world, scripture tells us to not lose heart, “though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

God’s plan for you has you in mind. Your mind, as it is. Your body, as it is. Not a self-actualized you or a perfected you, but you as you are.

2. God has prepared good works for you.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:1-10

Paul reminds us that while we were dead in sin, God made us alive together with Christ because of His rich mercy. And He didn’t just revive us, He assigned us. Look at the language here: God was at work even before we knew it. He had a plan even when we were dead in our trespasses.

If you are in Christ, His good work in you propels you to be a catalyst of the good works He wants to do through you.

3. God desires that you would walk in them.

So is there some big purpose for my life?

How will I know what to walk in?

Take a deep breath and read Proverbs 19:21 aloud– “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

God created you, He has a purpose for you, and as you walk with Him, you are being trained for the task, and the appointment specifically on your life.

You may still be in the unknown right now, but don’t let that stop you from trusting God has a plan. In whatever spaces you occupy: the classroom, the job, the friend group, the family—proclaim His good works! If you are in Christ, you can be comforted that He will equip you with all you need to carry out what He has called you to do as you walk with Him.

So what does that mean?

It means that while we may not know exactly what the task God has called you to is (and you may not either) God’s very design is for you to walk with Him.

Be encouraged, no matter what you are facing today—the big decision, the offer letter, the reconciliation, the transfer— His purpose for your life is good. It was prepared in advance, with you in mind. You can walk with Him today.

1. The analogy of an artist creating a painting vs. assembling a Chipotle bowl is used to describe "workmanship." How does this analogy help deepen your understanding of being "God's workmanship," and what personal reflections does it prompt about your own life and purpose?

2. In reference to St. Augustine's quote, the idea is presented that humans often marvel at the natural world but forget to marvel at themselves. Why do you think this is the case, and what practices might help us appreciate our own worth and God's craftsmanship in us?

3. Heath talks about each person having an "eternally designed job description." How does this concept resonate with you? Can you think of ways in which you might discover or fulfill this divine job description in your own life?