God's Masterpiece

For the past two weeks, I have been back in my hometown of Spokane, Washington visiting my family. One of the great things about the Northwest (especially in comparison to Texas) is the natural scenery. This past week, I had the opportunity to spend a few days backpacking in the scenic Cascade Mountains.

During the trip, my appreciation for God's creation reached a whole new level. I really enjoyed the breathtaking views of snowy peaks and peaceful meadows, but that is only one aspect of the creation. The creation truly does testify of God, as explained by Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen..."

But...

The creation is not God's masterpiece! Can you believe it? The mountains, the rivers, the oceans, the trees, the animals, the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the perfect balance of life, even all the planets and stars and galaxies...none of it is God's masterpiece.

What is God's masterpiece? Let's go to Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." The word masterpiece is sometimes translated as workmanship. The word in Greek is poiema, a great work of art expressing the maker's wisdom. We, the believers built up as the church, are God's poiema, God's workmanship, God's masterpiece! He has taken fallen sinners, redeemed them, regenerated them, making them his sons and his body as his corporate expression on the earth. What a masterpiece!