September 12, 2024

What It Means to Be a Masterpiece of God

‍Falling Asleep at the Wheel

My eyes shot wide open, and panic gripped me as I noticed the median creeping closer to my car. I seized the wheel, overcorrected, and spun around, ending on the shoulder, facing oncoming traffic. I had dozed off while driving. I was just 19 or 20, cruising in my red 1984 Ford Mustang. The night before had been late, and I'd spent the day soaking up the sun at the beach. When I finally returned home for a nap, a letter on my nightstand caught my eye; it informed me that my car payment had bounced. At that moment, I realized I hadn’t deposited my paycheck.

Back then, there was no convenience of snapping a picture of a check for instant deposit. I had to physically drive to my credit union located across town, and that’s when I fell asleep at the wheel.

During this tumultuous time in my life, much like my car, everything felt out of control. I was grappling with insecurity, anxiety, the need to please others, self-medication, and rebellion.

Lost and Found in God's Grace

Fast-forward to when I embraced Christ as Lord and Savior. I married a pastor and became a pastor's wife and Bible teacher. I engaged in children’s ministry and participated in all church activities, unaware that I was still burdened by much of my past shame, which is not what our Heavenly Father desires for us.

If you find yourself in a similar situation—stuck in shame or trying to prove your worth by "doing all the things"—remember that as a follower of Christ, you have the Holy Spirit. We don’t need the validation of others when we possess the Holy Spirit's seal of approval!

Scripture reveals who we were apart from Christ. Ephesians 2:1–3 states, "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."

Returning to my story of dozing off at the wheel, my life was spiraling out of control, just like my car. I was a child of wrath, influenced by worldly ways and the prince of the power of the air lost and not following my Lord and Savior. However, let’s look at verses four and five from Ephesians 2.

"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."

BUT GOD! These two words are among my favorites in the Bible. BUT GOD, in His rich mercy and great love for us—even when we were dead in sin—made us alive in Christ. He saved us by grace through faith!

God's Workmanship: Our True Identity

Our true identity is beautifully captured in Ephesians 2:10 for those who follow Christ.

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

We are God's masterpiece. Workmanship refers to something made, and in this context, it signifies something created by the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Creator of all things. The very hands of the Master Artist have crafted us. However, being God’s masterpiece should not lead to pride; instead, a masterpiece reflects the artist. When we live as God’s masterpiece, we acknowledge our approval, forgiveness, and significance as a beautiful work of art crafted by the Creator of heaven and earth. In doing so, we radiate the beauty of the Master Artist.

Ephesians 2:10 also assures us that God has already prepared good works for us to undertake. This should instill confidence within us. We need not strive, worry, or plan excessively to uncover our purpose. We don’t have to meet others’ expectations about what we should be doing. Instead, we can simply walk in the good works He has already laid out for us. We don't need to create His will; we merely need to discover it.

If you find yourself striving and stressed, as I once did, even as a believer trying to forge God's plan for my life, take a step back and immerse yourself in the Word of God. Scripture and prayer are the best ways for us to uncover His plans. Recommit to your daily reading and seeking, saying, "Lord, speak to me, show me the path you have for me, and grant me the strength to obey and walk in the good works you have already provided."

PS: 🎉 Season Two of the Secure in God's Embrace podcast has dropped! 💃💃
"In this episode, Cheryl Lutz shares her personal story of falling asleep at the wheel and the chaos in her life at that time. She emphasizes finding security and significance in God rather than seeking validation from others." LISTEN OR WATCH HERE: