Let Jesus redeem your work
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)
At Easter, we celebrate that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, sacrificed his life, and conquered death. On a personal level, it is good to know that “whoever believes in the Son, has eternal life” (John 3:36 (NIV)). But Jesus’ sacrifice meant more than just saving you and me. The theologian N.T. Wright writes, “Easter is such a huge event that even in the churches, we can’t cope with it, and we’ve scaled it down to fit our little minds. (..) Easter isn’t just about you and me and our present spiritual experience or our hope beyond the grave. Easter is the beginning of God’s new world. (..) When Jesus bursts out of the spiced tomb on the first Easter Day, the history of the cosmos changed its course.” (From Following Jesus: Reflections on Discipleship”)
At Easter, Jesus also redeemed our work, allowing us again to experience how God intended it to be. From the beginning, our designer wanted us to serve him by cultivating the earth and working and caring for the garden he had planted and placed us within (Gen 2:8 and 15). The calling is the same to us today. The society we live in is the garden God has called us to work and take care of.
Because of our sin, the work environment was cursed. This causes stress, pressure to produce, lack of purpose, and disappointing results. One day, this curse will be removed, and we will again fully serve God as he intended us to (Rev 22:3).
Some people are surprised when we at Tent teach that there will be work in heaven. Many of us would rather have an eternal vacation or rest. This may indicate that we have never experienced work as God intended it.
Imagine the following situation: You get to do something fully aligned with your design, and the results of your labor go far beyond what you expect. In addition, what you do is highly appreciated by everyone around you. They also contribute happily to their design, and you feel overwhelmingly blessed by what they provide. On top of this, the designer, the one who created everything, lovingly rejoices in everything that happens and in how his creation honors him by serving him.
Does this sound heavenly?
When we follow Jesus here on earth, we occasionally catch sight of how God intended everything to be. We may also sense his fulfillment and deepest intention in our labor. And then, because of Jesus’ sacrifice at Easter, we will one day experience everything fully as it is described in Rev 22:3:
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him” (NIV).
Challenge
To what extent do you sense God’s fulfillment when you use your skills to serve him in your society? How can you work and care for the garden he has placed you in? (Gen 2:15)
Pray
Jesus, I thank you for redeeming the whole creation, including my work. Help me to serve you fully in everything I do. Bless the work of my hands so it can be a blessing to many.
