FAMILY – GOD’S MASTERPIECE

“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 2:10 (NLT)

From a Christian perspective, we can view the FAMILY as GOD’S MASTERPIECE in creation: “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.” (Eph.2:10). The New King James says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” The God who makes us His Masterpiece as New Creation in Christ is the same who created Family at the beginning. Artists are known by their most important creations. Each masterpiece reveals something of its creator. The same is true of God. Just as the masterpiece of an artistic creator reveals his or her heart, God is to be known through His most vital works of creations.

We catch a glimpse of the Artist at work in chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis. God spoke galaxies into existence, formed the mountains, filled the oceans, and planted forests with a splendid range of colour and variety. His spirited side is evident in the diversity of creatures; but the masterpiece that reveals more about God than anything else manifested when God made something called “family”: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen.1: 27-28). The Family is precious to God!

The unique workmanship and masterpiece of God is seen in His design and purpose of the Family. In particular, two essential elements of Family – MARRIAGE and PARENTHOOD – reveal God’s character like nothing else in Creation. Families are central to God’s plan for His children. They are the fundamental building block of strong societies. Families are where we can feel love and learn how to love others. Life is tough, and we need family to lean on. Home is a safe haven where we can get love, care, and support. The love between a husband and wife provides a glimpse of Christ’s passionate devotion to the Church as His bride. In the same way, the challenges of parenthood offer a compelling picture of God’s tenderness and patience toward us as His children.

Family on Earth is purposed to be patterned after The Father’s Family in heaven. Much like we can go to our parents for counsel, our Heavenly Father is available to give us love and help. Beyond reflecting His Character, Family also provides a safe place where children can experience God’s love – through their parents – and learn how to love other people. Even Christ was born within the context of a family (Lk.1: 26-31). “God in the flesh” submitted to an earthly mother and father to model what it means to honour parents and to benefit from their loving direction: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exo.20:12). It was within the nurturing care of His earthly family that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk.2:52).

When we know that God has a special purpose for placing children in families, we are led into a deeper appreciation for the family God has given us, and better understand Family and Parenting-related scriptures such as Proverbs 1: 8-9, “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” Ephesians 6: 1-3 also says: “CHILDREN, obey your PARENTS in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”