Saved For A Purpose (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God has saved you for a purpose. The final verses of this passage give us a glimpse into the future. Why doesn’t God just take to Heaven those He saves right away? Because there are good works to do. Good works do not earn God’s favour, but they are a necessary response to God’s favour. Good works do not save us, but they do give great evidence that we are saved. Paul says as a result of our salvation, as a result of the ‘but God,’ moment that moved us from death and the devil and hell to life and Christ and Heaven, there are things we have to do.

But what things are they? We’d love to know wouldn’t we? What is God’s will? 1 Thess 4:3 tells us, ‘for this is God’s will, your sanctification.’ God’s plan for Christians is to make us more like Jesus. He wants us to love Jesus more and the world less, he wants us to show people around us that we are saved by good works. So which college should I go to? The one that helps me love Jesus more. Which girl should I date? The one that helps me love Jesus more? Who should I be close friends with? The ones that help me loive Jesus more. What job should I work? One that helps me love Jesus more.

We get so bent out of shape looking for God’s secret will for our lives. God has told us His will for our lives. Do good works, which show that you love Jesus, and help you love Jesus more.

I hope this spiritual x-ray has revealed some things to you. If you’re not saved, I hope you’ve seen yourself as dead. Not as having a great time away from Jesus, but as the hopeless slave of the devil. And I hope it’s made you want to come to Jesus. If you are saved let me close with another illustration for you. Hetty Green was known as America's greatest miser. She managed an inherited fortune so shrewdly that she was also considered the greatest woman financier in the world. In 1916 she died leaving an estate that was worth nearly 100 million dollars. Yet she would eat cold oatmeal because she didn't want to spend the money to heat the water. Her son eventually lost his leg from a relatively minor injury because she took him to a number of free medical clinics instead of calling for a doctor. She had tremendous resources but didn't make use of them.

Christians, Jesus has given you tremendous resources. Use this x-ray to see yourself as you really are, and give your life to good works for the glory of Jesus, as He showers you with His kindness and love.