Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

David Hellyer considers what our value and purpose truly are.

David Hellyer

We live in very interesting times. Against a backdrop of the Brexit vote in the UK, which has the potential to change the face of Europe forever, and the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the USA what do I see hogging all the headlines this morning? Pokémon Go! If ever you wanted to see what escapism looks like, surely this is it. Rather than face the very real issues in the streets around us people are burying their heads in the sand (or smartphones) chasing imaginary Pokémon through those same streets.

What's our response to be in times like these? Should we join the Pokémon Go craze or just sit back and chuckle as we see people walking into things all around as they have their eyes glued to their smartphones?

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul writes: 'For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago' (Ephesians 2:10). What an amazing verse! Three things stand out to me in it.

Significance: We are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His poem and His hand crafted item. God the creator of all things deliberately made me! That fact knocks me for six when I take time to let it sink in. My significance isn't found in whatever material things I have, or haven't, managed to acquire. My significance is based entirely in what He has already done for me. He made me in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and has given His best for me (Romans 5:8).

Salvation: Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are 'made anew in Christ Jesus'. All of us who are Christians have been made anew in Christ, but we are also being made anew daily. This reminds me that my salvation is not a onetime only affair, but a daily walk.

Purpose: The close of the verse reminds me that I'm not just here for myself, there are 'good works planned for me long ago'. These are things 'God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in' as the Bible puts it.

For me what this passage makes clear is I am significant and my contribution matters. I have a positive role to play in times of political turbulence, racial reconciliation and video game crazes! I have been made anew in Christ for such a time as this and I can share that new life with others. Whatever is going on in the world around me, Brexit votes, #BlackLivesMatter, Pokémon Go and a hundred other things you could mention, I need to live with my God given purpose in mind.

I leave you with this brilliant passage from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, which spells it out far better than I ever could:

'This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ'.