The evidence of faith

“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

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads; two decisions laid out before you, knowing that each decision would ultimately lead you down different roads? You were desperate to make the “right” decision and remain within “God’s will” for your life. You were scared to death that if you made the wrong decision, your life in Christ as you know it would be doomed.

Perhaps I am being too dramatic, but maybe I’m not. I think many believers tend to think in these extremes when it comes to decision making, and we live fearful that somehow we could wander outside of what God wills for our lives. If we understand sovereignty accurately, we find that there really is no need to fear, because God is in control of the outcome. Not only are we predestined in Him, but He also has predestined good works for us to walk in. Before you took your first breath, He had plans for your life. Before your parents ever thought of the possibility of you, God had good works planned out for you to walk in. I’m not suggesting that you and I are puppets, and that God holds the strings. I’m saying that we can rest in the fact that since He is in control, He is also able to make messages out of our messes. When we screw up and wander, He is able to turn that brokenness into blessing, not only for us, but also for others.

Psalm 139 poetically describes this truth. God’s loving hands knit us together in our mother’s womb. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) Because He is the master designer and the awesome Creator, we as His workmanship are without flaw. Sin is our natural bent because of the Fall, and it infects us all, but God did not make a mistake when He fashioned and formed us. Not one.

And He didn’t just create us to be beautiful reflections of His image. He also created us to do good works, works that would boast of His goodness, grace, and love, works that would draw others to Himself. Just as He foreknew us, He also prepared in advance these good works for us to walk in. I love that our God is detail-oriented, because I so am not. He didn’t miss a single thing. I always miss things. He never overlooked even the smallest detail. I constantly forget details, even important ones. He was incredibly intentional when He breathed life into our lungs.

This is quite possibly the truth that I find most hope in – that in Christ, I have a purpose. If we are honest with ourselves, every single one of us have wondered at one point in time or another at what our purpose is here on earth. Why? Because we were created on purpose, with purpose, and for purpose. Therefore, we desire to know our purpose. Well, here it is:

Your purpose is to walk in the good works that God has prepared in advance for you.
Every opportunity you’re given on this side of heaven to bring Him glory, walk in it. Every person that crosses your path that you can speak life and truth to, walk in it. Every difficult situation that you can choose to trust in the Lord instead of run from Him, walk in it. And why is this so incredibly important? Because when we walk in the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to walk in, we bring God glory, and that, my friends, is our highest calling and ultimate purpose: to bring God glory. We exist to bring Him glory. That’s it. So, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all to bring God glory, and as we walk in the good works He prepared for us, the genuiness of our faith is made evident to all.