“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 ESV).
How many of us have seen and marveled at the extraordinary creativity that comes to life when simple, everyday and often inexpensive objects are transformed into something remarkable? Like turning plates into beautiful wall art, stacking books to create a side table or using a step ladder as a bookshelf, to mention a few. It speaks well of the creative genius of the designer. That being said, I would like to bring in the idea of repurposing. When you repurpose something, you use it in an entirely new way, adapting it to a new function.
God does something similar and yet to a substantially greater degree, in the lives of everyone who is committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God’s purpose for His children is to manifest who He is on earth. This is only possible through our uninterrupted fellowship with Him (See John 15:4). God in His wisdom will design our circumstances in such a way that we learn to live by faith in Him. And as we take one obedient step after another, we will soon realize that we are no longer living for ourselves but for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How does the Lord repurpose the lives of all these formerly self-loving or should I say egotistic people like us? How do we stop living for our earthly goals and find joy in His eternal purpose for us? He does this through a process called regeneration where we are given a new heart that responds to God. It is not an improvement of our old nature which is crucified with Christ at Calvary. But our heart, which is the core of our being, experiences a fundamental change.For it is God who says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV).
This new life as we know it must be developed. The old life is no longer having power over us as it once used to. With the Holy Spirit and His Word actively working in our lives, our minds are being renewed by God’s truth. As we understand that there is no middle ground between Christ and culture, we learn to turn our backs to everything contrary to His teaching. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ…” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).
To become like Jesus in our spiritual maturity, God institutes various means of grace in our lives. This includes reading and meditating on God’s Word, fervent prayer and suffering in obedience. And as our world view undergoes a paradigm shift through His work in us, He can use us freely for His Kingdom and His glory. Any work that is produced outside of our completeness in Christ is worthless. John Wesley, the famous theologian once said “All outward means of grace, if separate from the spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or love of God. All outward things, unless he works in them and by them, are in vain.”
I pray that each one of us will make great progress in our repurposed lives. We are not displayed as trophies on a wall to impress but are channels of His blessing to those around us. With hearts fully surrendered to His love, may we be strengthened by grace so that we may strengthen our brethren. For this is our calling in Christ Jesus and may we walk in them (See Ephesians 2:10).
Nisha George
