Created by God, Designed for His Purposes - Ephesians 2:10

INTRODUCTION

We love works of art in its many different forms! Whether that is admiring a painting, getting into a good book, enjoying the songs on the radio or the talent of a skilled musician, being amazed by technological innovation and advancement, or even enjoying the storytelling of movies and tv shows, we enjoy the creativity of others. We appreciate the amount of time and work that was placed in the work of art that we are enjoying. We recognize there is someone who wanted to create something for a purpose, whether that was for their own joy and pleasure or perhaps for the joy and pleasure of others or the accomplishment of a particular task. We get a sense that life has meaning beyond our own individual existence. That there is purpose and meaning within creation as a whole that goes beyond our small sphere of influence.

In the same way, Gods creativity is intoxicating for us! His power and creative design are on display throughout our world and beyond. From the smallest particle of DNA to the largest nebula in our galaxy, God’s infinite creativity is used to bring glory to Himself and make Himself known.

When we go out to the mountains or the Grand Canyon, or view the stars in the sky, we get a sense that life has meaning and purpose beyond our own simple existence, and yet at the same time, we also get the sense that we are being invited to live within this larger purpose.

This year at VBS we have considered what it means to be the Creative Designer’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Music, arts, technology and creativity can all be avenues for bringing God glory.

Let’s see how the Master Artist has designed us to fit into His Masterpiece through Scripture.

GOD IS THE MARVELOUS CREATOR

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

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

First, we see that God is the Master Creator and that we are His workmanship.

• God is the only One who can truly create, meaning to make something out of nothing. God started with nothing and made everything! He didn’t just imagine our world, but EVERYTHING that exists! He engineered existence when nothing existed. He’s the only One who has the power to do this.

• In addition to the creation account in Genesis 1, We also see the powerful magnitude of His ability to create in Psalm 33:6-9 . By God’s word the heavens were made, and by His very breath the stars were formed!

Psalm 33:6–9 (ESV)

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;

he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded, and it stood firm.

Think about the Creative power of God. He only had to speak and things came into existence. He said let there be light and it came speeding out of His mouth!

Thanks to advances in space exploration, we know that stars and galaxies are intricately designed and have amazing beauty!

About a month ago, during our Wednesday night prayer meeting, we watched Louie Giglio’s message called “Indescribable” where He looked at God’s marvelous and indescribable power in Creation. He showed several photos that we have been able to take through the Hubble Space Telescope. There is amazing beauty and glory in creation that shows forth God’s power and creativity.

It is reassuring to know that the God who made the galaxies and the stars, also made you and me and chose to make us in His image. Because we are made in His image, He has given us a purpose.

GOD CREATED WITH PURPOSE

One of God’s major purposes is to make Himself known, and so His creation is to reveal Himself. (See Romans 1:20 , Psalm 19:1-4 )

Psalm 19:1–4 (ESV)

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

Romans 1:20 (ESV)

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

God’s desire through creation is to make Himself known. When we look at everything around us and we see the beauty of creation, we are getting a glimpse of God’s majesty and beauty.

God also revealed His plan through the prophets of the Old Testament, then God revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

• God has revealed Himself partially through creation, but He has perfectly revealed Himself through Jesus. The only way we can know God and the purpose for which He has created us is by looking to Jesus.

• Jesus is the center of God’s design and plan. A creative illustration of this is found in DaVinci’s Last Supper. He designed this piece so that the focal point of the entire painting is Jesus’ face. The perspective is drawn in such a way that all lines in the painting converge on Jesus’ forehead so that Jesus is the focal point, or where the viewer’s eye keeps returning. Jesus is literally the center of the painting. This is no accident. This was the artist’s design and intention. This is how God has designed life to be fully enjoyed—with Jesus at the center.

WE FULFILL OUR PURPOSE ONLY IN JESUS

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

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

• Apart from Christ, we will never be able to know or fulfill our purpose. Because of sin, we have been separated from God and are unable to fulfill the purpose He gave to us. We need something to take care of the sin problem within us.

Christ has come to be the solution to our sin problem. He has come to make God known to us by living the perfect life, teaching us who He is, loving us. But most importantly He came to remove our sins from us so we can be brought back into perfect relationship with God. He did that by taking upon Himself the penalty of sin by His death on the cross. He bore the wrath of God on our behalf, was buried, and was raised the third day As He defeated sin and death.

Therefore, Finding our God-given purpose starts with surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ and following Him.

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We do this by repenting of our sin and trusting in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is biblical salvation.

John 6:29 (ESV)

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

When we come to Christ in faith and repentance, God reconciles us to Himself. He takes away our sin and restores us to a right relationship with Himself.

When we are made right with God through Christ, He gives us a purpose and gives us His good works for us to walk in. It is not about us working to show how good we are, but displaying God’s glory to those around us.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So what is our purpose in life? The purpose God has given to you and to me is to know Him and to make Him known. We come to know God when we come to trust and follow Christ. And then we make Him known when we live in submission and obedience to Him and tell others about His grace and mercy towards us.

• Second Timothy 1:9 says, “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

• As a Christ-follower, no matter what talent or gift God has given you, it was given so that you can make God known and bring Him glory. We are called to live according to the good works God has given to us so when people see us following Christ, they will come to know Him and His love for them and will glorify Him with their lives.

CONCLUSION

Do you want to know what God’s will for your life is? It is to know Christ and to make Him known. If you already know Christ, the purpose God has designed for your life is to seek to make Him known to those around you. If you do not already know Christ, God’s will for you is to believe in the One whom He has sent. You can do this today by repenting of your sins and placing your faith and trust in Jesus today.