We are God's Workmanship

“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, NKJV)

It’s easy for many to, when hearing this verse, think about a painting or a canvas. Workmanship, which in other Biblical versions translates to “masterpiece”, “accomplishment”, “making”, “creation”, “handicraft”...etc, recognizes the work of the designer and the beauty of the design, the work of the creator and the beauty of the creation, the detailed vision implemented into the outcome of sincere art. And, it is very true to have that image with you regarding this verse, for it helps to describe our role as creations of God.

It’s fascinating to think about how little we associate ourselves with being God’s workmanship. Because how often are we telling ourselves that we are His creation, His masterpiece, His handicraft, in comparison to us being failures?

Our very being that was structured, since the beginning of time, what makes our limbs, what makes you stand, what makes you sit, what makes us function, was thought of and God-breathed. There are more cells in our body than there are stars in the sky, so it is evident knowing that we are God’s indeed workmanship. That, whether you go to an art museum and stumble on a painting, or maybe you’re able to catch a sunset overlooking a body of water, you can look at yourself as well and note that God has invested His creative design, grand plan, detailing vision, His beauty in you, as His masterpiece.

With the canvas analogy, it’s easy to see that each different color serves as a purpose. Artists are detailed in everything they provide within their craft, so much so that there can never be just a coincidence for anything.

One example would be a friend I have who is a fine art student. You ask him one question about a piece in an artbook and suddenly his eyes light up, and he’s talking about the brushstrokes, and the mixing of the brushes, the types of paints, acrylic versus watercolor, abstract versus figurative, the ability to identify between Italian versus Japanese art, and he’s able to identify the overall concept and idea of an art piece just by the tinges of the colors, and is able to recognize the purpose each element of paint serves.

A second example would be whenever I want to write stories. I think about the process of my character sketches, going in detail about who a character really is, name meanings, family origin, environmental upbringing, personality, setting, time, and place. Each detail is important to the overall plot and message I want to bring out to my story.

A third example is my brother when creating or listening to music. He tunes into every element, making sure that what he has is something he wants listeners to feel. He’s knowledgeable in identifying a song coming from a certain decade just based off of how a snare sounded in the 80s compared to the 90s. He carries a bright smile, dancing along to what he feels, what goes into his sound waves.

Now, with all this being said of creativity and artists at work, there now goes the question of what it is that we are to do with it. We are a painting, but as well as a system. We are fascinatingly complex in our thought processes and brain activity, our bodily functions, our emotions and psychological and biological development. So with everything that makes us who we are, these contributing factors to how we live and breathe, eat and sleep, walk and talk, and all of the above, there has to be that thought which questions our purpose. For what are designed? For what are we created? For who are we made for and for what are we called to do?

The Bible is very clear. It says in the text that we are “...created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). The very reason why we were created, the elements of our system that has been stitched together is to perform good works. Now what are good works? What is defined by good works and who’s to say what we do is good? What is the moral standard as we, who are created in Christ Jesus, are to uphold? The important thing to note is that in all of this, any form of a creation starts with an idea. This design creates the purpose of this creation before that creation could even exist. The verse goes on to say that these good works, our purpose, our colors, the way that we serve on the canvas of our lives, were prepared beforehand. That means that you and I all have a predestined assignment, but also the willingness in us to do it.

There was something that I heard a while ago, that basically said “God never calls you for a mission without instilling what will equip you for that task.” I’d like to think of your good work starting with your good character. The good Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 are there to be put into practice every day, starting in the comfort of our homes, so that when we go out into the world, the nature of our best characters serves and feeds into our good works, which are in our calling. God has prepared our good works beforehand. He has created roles in our everyday life since we were born. What pleases the Father becomes our purpose. How we go about our callings and assignments is what embeds our canvas.

We have to remember that the ultimate reason as to why we perform good works, why we were created in the first place, is to give God glory. What may this seem or look like? It’s simple.

When you walk into an art museum and stumble upon one of the most beautiful pieces you’ve ever seen, when you read such an insightful book, or when you hear a moving song, you automatically start looking for the creator. Think about it. As humans, itching for creativity and the chance of being inspired, if we discover that treasure we really like, there’s no going back. And almost all the time, we look for the background to the stories and automatically are so grateful for the artist who painted the picture, or the producer who produced the music, the arranger who made the arrangements, the composer who composed the songs, or the author who wrote the words so beautifully. You’re grateful to the creator that the piece didn’t just become an abandoned concept, but that it sprung to life.

We are a creation that is here for the glory of the creator. Even more so, more than any painting, or song, or poem. Because we were not God’s abandoned concept. We became His workmanship. In our canvas, God’s signature is present on the bottom corner. It means that whenever we are fulfilling our purpose and calling, the good works out into practice, our nature that He has already instilled in us, those who may not know God, look at us and say “Who is this creator? Who made him? Who made her?” and suddenly when God is discovered through all our good works, all praise, all glory, all honor, and all gratitude goes to God and God alone.

“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, NKJV)