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Just For Me

             For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

 

Many years ago, I parked a car on my patio area while Dad and I decided what to do with it. Some nights, when I glanced out the window, I could see the moon reflected in the back window. It seemed to me that God was giving me the moon. He might also give it to everyone else, but He was giving it to me, not only in that moment but through all of my life. It wasn’t mine in the sense that I could refuse it to anyone else, but it was mine because I gained the benefit of it. This might be a challenging concept to some, but others will get it.

As I look at today’s verse, I get some of the same feelings. God prepared work for me to do. When? The only way He could prepare it is to have prepared for it from before the universe was created. In a sense, the whole universe was created so that I could have significant work to do – a purpose. He created the universe for me. And for you. And even more so for Himself. They aren’t mutually exclusive.

People sometimes ask why there is evil, sickness, and pain in the world. Part of the answer is “sin.” People have rejected the universe as God made it and are trying to remake it in theirs. But another reason that God allowed it is because it gives Him and us a purpose and an opportunity to do good and to make good come out of bad. He allows it so we can help others and thereby not only express our love to God and to the person and find fulfillment. 

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