Appointed Tasks

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

One of my favorite movies, probably because it's based on one of my favorite books, is The Lord of the Rings. The movies are based on the trilogy of books by J.R.R. Tolkien, who vehemently denied that they were written as allegory. In spite of the fact that they are not allegory, the reader can see the influences of Tolkien's Christian faith sewn throughout the books (and to a much more limited extent throughout the movies).

One of the most memorable quotes from the movies is when one character tells another, "This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will." For one thing, it's just a memorable quote, and for another, it was played repeatedly on the trailer for the movie, so that even people who have not seen the movies probably can hear it in the actress's voice. In the movie, the recipient of this sage advice is tasked with a quest so weighty that the existence of the whole world as the characters know it depends on the success or failure of his quest.

As Christians, we all have tasks that we are appointed to do. They are tasks that are personally laid out for us. The NIV translation says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God "prepared in advance" certain good works for us, for each of us who are his creations in Christ Jesus. Notice that it didn't say that the good works were prepared for SOMEONE to do. Each of us has some good works that are ours, and there's not really an indication that if we fail to do those works that there is a "Plan B" on God's list for getting that exact work done. So we need to be attentive and looking for the good works that are ours to do.

Now, your good works and my good works may not be the kind of good works that save the world or bring about huge changes that reverbate through this life in a way that everyone can see them. Of course, they might be. When you allow God to lead you and you truly seek His will, great things happen.

Think about David. He was a shepherd, a "nobody" by the standards of his day...and he saved the Israelite army from defeat by slaying Goliath and went on to be one of the greatest kings in the nation's history.

Or think about Moses. When he saw the burning bush, he was also out tending flocks, a virtual nobody. On top of that he was a wanted man, fleeing from the punishment for murder, which was likely to mean execution for him. He went on to lead an entire nation out of slavery.

Or think about Noah. He was a...wait a minute, the Bible doesn't even say WHAT his profession was. What does it say about Noah to tell us who and what he was? "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." (Genesis 6:8-9) The Bible doesn't tell us what his profession was before God called him to build an ark. His position and status didn't matter...what mattered was that he walked with God. And he went on to save the human race and all the animal life on earth from extinction.

So, maybe the good works God has prepared for you might be such that they are noticed right now and are world-changing. Maybe they are not, though. And if they are not, you can be sure that they are no less important or meaningful. They may go unnoticed by most people in this life but end up changing someone's life or eternity. For example, maybe you go and talk to someone who looks depressed, and your attention and caring keep them from taking drastic action like turning to drugs or suicide? Maybe the food you donate to a food pantry is the only meal that keeps a child going when they're living in want? Or maybe the tutoring you offer at the local school helps a teen get to college and start a career? Maybe someone in the Sunday School class you decide to teach needs to hear what God calls you to say and they give their life to Christ as a result?

Be sure that any good work that God has laid out for you will bear fruit, and it will bear it in big ways. So look for the task that's appointed to you...and go accomplish it when you find it.