No boasting
We must land a little on the 9th verse which drags us back down from the heavenly realms to the stuff of earth. People, even those who put their initials on that line, are still spiritually sick. One of the sicknesses is pride expressed through boasting.
The sickness of pride easily interjects itself into good things done. Prowess is intrinsic in all we do. I was watching Sports Center while wrapping presents. They showed Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics flexing his biceps after dunking on Malcolm Brogdon. Why? Well, no answer needed. Sports and pride of play are synonymous. Going back to that Celtics-Bucks game even on earth pride bites as Brown was charged with a technical foul and Brogdon did not miss his shot.
Paul points out that boasting is out of bounds. His pointing it out, though, did not make it so. He felt it was essential to bring it the fore of this conversation of grace, gifts, and pretension to greatness. If the economy of heaven rested on the back of good deeds the grime of earth would soil heaven’s streets. If so that gold would not shine. Paul instructed that boasting has no place. There are no street cleaners in heaven.
The task of people
10 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)
I am a doer; a person of many projects. Of late the biggest project has been teaching myself computer graphics. I came to this because I wanted to perfect some of the 3D models I put together from my aerial imaging. I find that it has grown into a way to enchance my teaching skills in cataract surgery. The graphics and simulations I build are my workmanship.
From Ephesians 2:10 we see that God has projects, too. Probably the human tendency to make things is derived from by and from God. There was this thing he built: the cosmos. It is rather over the top.
The project Paul points out in this chapter, though, is people: Christians. God is at work on his people projects. I may design some surgical artwork and smile at it. God’s artwork is alive; it is us. I am busy about the task of doctoring and teaching how to repair the damaged vision that cataracts induce. God is busy about the task of doctoring removing spiritual cataracts.
When our spiritual vision is cleared we can be about God’s tasks. Paul calls them “good works.” He says that God prepared a good way of life for us. That sidewalk is paved and ready for walking. We do not get to boast about finding it. Rather, we get to be thankful as our feet plop-plop down along it. John Bunyan reminded us that there is a celestial kingdom at the end of it. Remember to smile as you walk.
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