Peace and mercy be multiplied in your life by our Lord, Jesus Christ! I believe, that the word I am sharing with you in this column strengthens you and helps you to continue your journey into life everlasting.
«For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…» (Ephesians 2:10).
We are not only created by God, we are also reworked or recreated by Jesus Christ. We are talking about the opportunity available to sinful people because Christ has come into this world. This is exactly what the letter to Ephesians says: «You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.» (Ephesians 2:1-10).
We were dead in our transgressions and sins, as hostages of satan that rules in the air we were unable to live according to what God has prepared for us. Due to the fall into sin we became slaves, lived in the lust of our flesh doing desires of the flesh.But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. He recreated us in Christ Jesus and reworked us according to His initial purpose.Once I read a story that was a bright example that proves this truth. It was the story of a young boy who lived in a small town on the shore of a big lake. He loved water and sailing sport. With a help of his father he built a nice sample boat, having spent a lot of time and efforts on it. It took them several month to complete the work. When the boat was ready the boy brought it to the lake-shore and carefully placed the boat on the water surface. Then he started to slowly release the rope the boat was tired with. The boy was very excited about his hand-craft and surprised was watching his boat nicely floating on the water. Suddenly, a strong draft of wind grabbed the tiny boat and carried it far, far away. The boy didn´t manage to pull the boat ashore because the rope he used for steering the boat torn apart. As the boat was rushing away driven by wind the boy was running along the coast as fast as he could but in vain. Soon the boat disappeared from his view.The boy had been looking for his favourite boat the whole day but of no effect. He returned home in the darkness, unhappy and stressed. Day by day he used to walk along the coast searching for his precious thing but without result when one day walking through the town he found his boat on some shop window. The boy approached the owner of the shop to say that he is the real master of that boat. Though, the new owner replied that the boat belongs to him because he paid a lot of money for it to a local fisherman. The only way to get the boat back, he said, was to buy it form the shop at the certain price. That´s what the boy decided to do. In order to get the necessary amount he had to work hard for a long time, doing every work he was offered to do. Having made enough money he returned to the shop to buy the boat. He was incredibly happy leaving the shop with the boat in his hands. He embraced it saying: “Now you belong to me twice, first, I created you, second, I ransomed you.”This story illustrates what God has done towards us. If you are a born again christian, you belong to God twice. First, you are His creation (He created you as His masterpiece), second, He redeemed you by the blood of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ when you were lost in the world of sin. «For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…» (Ephesians 2:10).
You have been created, redeemed and restored! You were born twice! Now there must be no any doubt regarding whom you belong to.Let´s continue the topic tomorrow!God´s peace be with you!Rufus Adjiboje, pastor
