Masterpiece

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

Ephesians 2:1-10

In high school, my friend Solomon decided to learn how to cut hair. Then in college, my friend Que learned how to cut hair. Now if you aren’t a black man, you might not know how important barbers are for the wellbeing of a community. Barbers are counselors, and life coaches, and networkers for their communities, but most importantly, they are transformers. Barbers have the ability to take something ugly and make it beautiful. Barbers have the ability to transform something old into something new. You may know from experience or from seeing it in the lives of others, but a good haircut can have someone looking and acting like an entirely new person. Barbers bring new life and confidence to their clients and I have two of them as best friends. I didn’t always realize the importance of haircuts and I would be out here looking dusty, but Solomon and Que would always take me aside and fix me up. 

I appreciate how in high school, Solomon would hear that I had a choir trip or recruitment trip coming up and tell me to come to his room for a haircut so I could look my best. Or how in college he would drive up to Huntsville from Birmingham just to give the boys haircuts and make sure they were ok. I can still hear Que say “Oh wait, do you have to sing at AY?! I gotta give you a cut!” Or how he would just put me in his schedule without me even asking. I really appreciate how both Solomon and Que would hear that I had something to do or just look at my expiring fade, and because they loved me, they would take it upon themselves to schedule me for a cut. Que and Solomon would see the things I needed to do in the future and do their part to make sure I was prepared for them. 

I love that God sees us when we are down in our sins. He sees us when we can’t help ourselves and takes it upon Himself to transform us. He sees the things planned for us in the future and knows transformation is needed before we step into those roles. He sees how broken we may be and takes the responsibility of making us whole. 

And one thing I really appreciated was that Que and Solomon would take their time and make sure I had what I needed. They knew me and my needs even when I didn’t. They were very meticulous to make sure they did everything in their ability to give me the best cut possible. They really had the power to transform my life and used their ability to make sure I had the best life possible. 

We are God’s masterpieces. He took time and thought this out to make sure we are transformed into the versions of ourselves He envisions. We were once lost, dead in our sins, but God was so rich in grace and mercy that He decided to give us a transformation. We can’t take credit for it. We can only accept it as a gift and live in it. We just have to trust Him to do this work for us and in us. 

Another interesting aspect of this concept is that it wasn’t only that Solomon and Que wanted me to be the best version of myself, they also knew that people would see me and the change that took place on my head, and they would be pointed to the creator who worked out such a masterpiece. They knew that the transformation in my life would point back to the creator who caused the transformation. 

I can’t repay Que and Solomon for how they have blessed me through our friendship. They have made sure I was transformed into something new when I couldn’t help myself. And their love and gift prompts me to be an advertisement of what they can do. 

Because of how much they improved my life, I can give back by allowing myself to be an advertisement of their work, so others can go to them and receive the same transformation. I walk around proud of my transformation. When anyone asks or compliments me on my haircut I can’t help but point them back to the person who made it happen. 

It’s the same thing with God. When you experience the peace and purpose that’s birthed from His love, it’s hard not to want to point others to it. And that’s what we are called to do   (Ephesians 2:6-7). We have the honor of being chosen not just as recipients of God’s transforming power, but to be used as billboards to point others to that power and grace. God wants to use our stories and our transformation to show others how much He loves us and what He can do in and with us. 

It’s only by grace that you have been saved. It’s a free gift, so you can’t even boast about earning it yourself. 

My haircuts have improved my life so much, and I say gift because my cuts were free for the most part. I can’t take any credit. These gifts aren’t because I work for them or earn them. They aren’t even because of who I know, they’re from me accepting who knows and loves me! 

In the same way, the gifts of God aren’t based on what you do. They are based on the fact that God knows you, loves you and sees you. He wants you to be the person He planned for you to be. He wants to spend His time with you, helping you grow and achieve. He wants you at your best! Giving back is just that, giving back. Our good works are birthed from the initial work of Christ. I try to give back as much as I can to Que and Solomon. Not because I have to in order to receive their blessings, but because their love and sacrifice prompt me to want to love and sacrifice. 

Do you want to accept this gift of not just transformation but eternal life from Jesus Christ?

How do I do that Pace? 

Open the door and allow your blessing to walk in. 

Before Solomon went to Oakwood, I would get periodic calls at 6 am telling me to open the door at Holland (the freshman dorm) for him. Now you may not be as extroverted and spontaneous as me but I loved it. Solomon would plan his trips out of his own love. He would sacrifice to come hang with his friends, and all I had to do was allow Him in. God works in the same way. He did the work of coming to you first. You don’t have to come to Him first. You just have to open the door and allow Him in. 

Will you allow Him in today?

It won’t just end in you having an amazing life with a best friend, it will end in transformation.

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