GOD: THE CREATIVE GENIUS OF GENIUSES.

God: The Creative Genius

Another Favorite Scripture of Mine.

 

We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works

that He prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

 

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah! I have heard it so many times that I am wondering why we say it so much.  Yes! It is true!  And I praise God Almighty for it:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God NOT OF WORKS to prevent anyone from boasting." Or so Ephesians 2:8-9 is recorded.  And I really do get it: God's glorious salvation is a gift! The faith we have to believe in Him is a gift ... even the wonderful and inconceivably generous grace is a gift! True people of God certainly would do well to celebrate.

 

However, something seems to get lost as one of the most powerful statements get's left out, which is this another favorite of mine ... Ephesians 2:10.  Here we have God, not only providing the wonders of salvation that prepare us for our eternal destiny, but God also miraculously is working in us and on us -- right here and right now!   He does so to cause us to accomplish things, perhaps even in spite of ourselves, what He prepared in advance for us to do. But you may ask, what is He preparing in us to do. Again that's a good question that deserves a reasonably well thought out answer.

 

First, since Jesus says we Christ-Followers are the light of the world, He most certainly is powering us up to shine baby shine!  Neither you or  I could no more "let this little light of mine" shine on our own than an unlit candle without us lighting it. We could no more exhibit the Holy glow on our own any more than a flashlight or L.E.D. light. Sure they can shine, but not  without a power source being connected in advance so as to provide energy to the bulb.  God prepared all the stuff to make you and me enough to be the light of the world.  And He did so in order that those in darkness, who wish to find the light for their lives, may be drawn to God's light. He did this in advance.

 

Second, Jesus identified us as the salt of the earth.  So, well in advance of us, He set in to motion all the necessary spiritually empowering nutriments for our spirits and souls to  be different somehow from the world.  He, in advance, put savor in us so that we can pass that savor on to unsavory or tasteless lives.

 

Third:  When we abide in Him and He is us,  another miracle takes place: Like a branch on a vine, the phenomenon of becoming fruit bearing new creations occurs.  Everything necessary for the transformation of our lives takes place. As we deny ourselves/die to ourselves and take up His Cross to Follow Him,  He miraculously grows out of us a holiness, without which we cannot see the Lord.  He produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness/integrity and self control. Yes! since we are "In Him" and He is "In us," He forms us into the image of Christ.  He, in advance, has cultivated the vineyard of our lives to  produce the fruit of The Holy Spirit.  He produces the very character of God.

 

Fourth and finally, I could go on and on about the gifts of The Holy Spirit He imparts to us. The Lord does this so that we may impart the miracles of God's grace to the world around us... and the list goes on .....

 

So, it is true that our salvation is not of works.  But the thing that makes this verse one of my favorites is that it indicates why God saves us in spite of our works and not because of them.  He does so that we  become what He, who is the Creative Genius above All geniuses,  has created us to become.

 

However, God does  save us in spite of our works  not to give us an excuse for coming up short continually.  Certainly we do, but we are more likely to be the light of the world and a city on a hill, the salt of the earth, abundant fruit bearing and gifted people, IF we focus on what God is preparing us in advance to do rather than on our short comings.

 

So, let us understand how the former Saul who was transformed into Paul is agreeing with James.  And let's take on the challenge: Let us not habitually excuse ourselves for not having works (because we certainly can do so), but let's demonstrate our faith by the works God produces in advance for us to do.  Let's get our focus on  believing apart from our works AND  becoming by demonstrating God's works ... works  made possible in advance by the Almighty. Then we will indeed ...

 

Be Blessed 2day ... Especially Today

 

SoJourner