A massive block of white marble, twenty feet long from an old Roman quarry, was transported by oxen-drawn carts to the Mediterranean Sea, then carried on barges pulled by oxen up the Arno River to Florence, Italy. On the morning of September 13, 1501, Michelangelo began his work. Almost four years later, on June 8, 1504, it was completed. From that solid rock, Michelangelo envisioned and chiseled a masterpiece, the statue of David, that still stands in Florence today.

Michelangelo isn’t the only one who created masterpieces. Check out this passage from Ephesians 2:10.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

You are God’s workmanship, his masterpiece. And he is in the process of chiseling. He uses his divine tools to chip off the things that distort our souls—our attitudes, thoughts, and actions characterized by jealousy, anger, lust, and self-centeredness. God knows exactly what he is doing. He sands down parts that are rough and removes pieces that weigh us down. He chisels through the experiences of our lives, the high times and the hard times. All of God’s work to shape us is good, and it seems he makes the most progress during the difficult and challenging stretches.

Unlike Michelangelo’s lifeless masterpiece, God is growing you to do good works. Before you and I existed, God prepared our strategic plan. This lifetime design outlines all the good works that we are to accomplish. Some of the noble deeds include the things associated with our calling. Some are the fruit that others will see us exhibit, and some are behind the scenes for God’s eyes only. God created us in Christ Jesus for significant action.

So, don’t just sit there. Don’t waste valuable time. No one else can do all that God has prepared in advance for you to do…no one. There is only one statue of David, and there is only one you. Jesus lives in you! You are spiritually alive! You are significant! Hold your head up high and do the work the Creator has called you to do.

Father, thank you for making us significant through Jesus. Thank you for placing our identity in him. Help us do all that you have prepared in advance for us to do. Don’t let us waste our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.