We are His Workmanship

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing 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 as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10

Working diligently with a small cross-stitch design, the lady leaned over to her friend and proudly displayed her finished product. Her friend reached out to touch it. But the lady pulled back and said, “Please don’t look at the back.” Turning the needle work over, an abundance of knots and strings were revealed. It was the sure sign of a beginner’s work. But a smile brightened on her friend’s face: “Don’t be silly. The only thing that truly matters is the front, and it looks perfect!”

God has a design for each of our lives. There are times when we fail to follow His plan, and several knots are sewn into our lives. From the back side, our lives may look disastrous. However, turn your life design over and see it from God’s perspective. Yes, there were times of failure; but there also were times of yieldedness and victory. From God’s viewpoint, the knots represent times of instruction.

He knew from the beginning that we would face times of discouragement an defeat. However, He also knew there would be times when we would refuse to yield to Satan’s deception. You are God’s workmanship. From His viewpoint, your life is being woven into a design that bears a remarkable resemblance to the life of His Son.

“...we will also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:49