If God had a show on HGTV, it would be about soul renovation. It sounds hokey, but it carries the idea just fine. We’ve been using this illustration to explore the nuances of Ephesians 2:10. According to its context, God takes souls with no sign of life and makes them vibrant with life. He makes new life for new living.
We began by comparing the before-and-after shots of the soul. In Ephesians 2:1, we see the soul in a condemned condition. It is “dead in the trespasses” and walks in sin. “But God,” according to Ephesians 2:4, intervenes with great mercy and grace. He transforms the dead soul into a living masterpiece for the purpose of His glory (Eph. 2:10).
In this final look, we see the good works God prepared are meant for us to walk in. It reads quite literally, “that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). By way of reminder, walking refers to daily choices and actions. It is a way of life, a manner of living. Here, walking is described as taking steps in good works.
Imagine a field covered in a thick layer of snow. The ground is unseen. When a father is to lead his son across the field, he might go before his son to make a pathway of footsteps. The son only needs to step in the tread of his father to assure he continues in the right direction. This is the idea behind good works being prepared beforehand by God that we should walk in them. We are treading in His steps. We should walk continuously, directionally, and deliberately.
God is never at a stand still. He is always moving ahead “to unite all things in him” (Eph. 1:10). He is chasing His glory and leading all things to it. He presses forward and keeps steady. As time moves along, so does life. We are neither at a stand still. Life continues, so does our walk. Walking in good works is a continuous walk. Each step leads us closer to God’s glory.
No Christian is to be like the man who hopped on his horse and rode off in every direction. God’s steps lead to His glory. It is a single direction. It is His way, towards Him. The lures of this world will tempt us to step off the path and walk away, but we must keep our direction sure. We must continously follow Christ.
The word “should” implies that though the steps are laid before us, we have yet to tread on them. Walking in good works is a deliberate and intentional walk. There is nothing passive about the motion. Only the steps are prepared for us—not the exertion of energy, not the effort of obedience, not the surrendering of self. These things we must do ourselves with the Lord’s help. Walking in Christ is not walking blindly, but with our eyes wide open and fixed on Christ. You should walk deliberately in Him.
[blockquote class=”scripture”]“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).[/blockquote]
We are designed by God to walk in the good works that He has carefully created. We are His workmanship, His masterpieces, carefully renovated for the sake of displaying His glory to the world that more might see Him and long for His salvation. Are you walking in His footsteps so that others might join you?