Me a Masterpiece?

Last night was deeply encouraging. Luke Sumner spoke to the Student Ministry for the last time before he and his family move to Florida and becomes a missionaries for Agape Flights. First, I need to admit how difficult it will be to see a good friend like Luke (and of course Sarah) leave. I am deeply thankful for Luke's great love for Christ and desire to follow Him alone. I know that God has great things in store for Luke and God will complete those things (Phil. 1:6).

Last night Luke spoke from one of my favorite passages in scripture (Ephesians 2:10). This great verse from Paul declares that we are God's masterpiece. As I look closely at my tattered life it is difficult to imagine myself to even be finger paint or paint by numbers let alone a masterpiece in God's eyes!!! But thankfully I do not have to rely upon the messy life I see or the rollercoaster of feelings that I through. If I did rely upon those things I would probably be in a gutter somewhere. That is what I feel that I deserve. Thankfully I rely upon what God tells me in the Bible. That old defective me was chosen by the creator of the universe. That now I am adopted into his family. And that I was apart of his forever plan. Perhaps I should stop with the singular and move to the plural. Because if you are in Christ. Even if you feel your life is out of control and a filthy mess. God looks at you and sees the finished product. The masterpiece. That blows my mind. It says that I have such a narrow look at life. If only I could fully see with God's eyes.

What is more encouraging than these things. Is the fact of how carefully a masterpiece is put together. There are no masterpiece accidents. Every stroke of the brush. And every hit of the hammar upon the chisel has purpose. Though God's work in me may be painful or messy it will result in our overall beauty in God's eyes. So, though I am not happy with my messy life. And I hate the pain of his work in me at times. I am indeed thankful because I am in the hands of the master. And He says I am a masterpiece.

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