“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:2-6
Throughout my childhood, I was told that I was quite artistic. I remember in fifth grade, our teacher divided the class into many groups made up of five to six students. Our assignment was a group art project in world history class. Everyone wanted to be in my group and after the groups were assigned, I could hear other students complaining that it wasn’t fair that they were not included in my group. We started the project but quickly ran into difficulty. The teacher would come by and the mural I was drawing, she would comment that it was too small. So I would start over again but then she would come again and comment that it was still too small. The group began to get frustrated and asked me to get a whole new sheet for our project, but in my stubbornness, I was determined to fix it my way. Once again the teacher made another negative comment and this time as I erased my mistake- a huge rip occurred in the middle of our project. By this time, it was too late to start all over and we received a rather below average grade for the assignment- I let the entire group down, so much for my reputation.
No one likes to be examined, to be the object of criticism. Sure, there may be a few of us that are “mature,” those who have “wisdom” to know what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. But honestly who are they? No one and I mean no one likes to be called out. And why is that? Because we don’t like what we see in ourselves. Truth, in this case, is extremely painful.
Our lives, tragically, is a make up of compounded problems. Like that kid in the fifth grade who kept trying to fix his own mistakes until finally the big rip. We all know we are making bad decisions and when the inevitable occurs, we put our heads down and are determined to fix our way out of the mess. And what do we end up with? A masterpiece? A Michelangelo? No, for most of us it looks like a Picasso.
There is another way… “Therefore, (since God is opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble) humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6).
Don’t be fooled, God’s way is not painless, in fact it maybe more painful- but you know the finished product- “we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13). This is God’s masterpiece. But there is only one way to this finished product- His way, “he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.” (Jer. 18:4).
In our own making, we are “spoiled clay.” But the potter will not toss us away, He will patiently work out all the kinks and build us up again until we are useful vessels for His purpose. But for this to happen, He must first tear down, to purify the “spoiled” material, He must recycle us over and over again. And although we may not enjoy the process, we allow the Potter to do His work knowing that He loves us, “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) In doing so, we will find pleasure in the finished product.
Beloved, don’t fight God. Humble yourselves, see with honesty your sins, confess them, let God break you down so that He can gently build us up again into the full stature of His beautiful Son. May the Lord continue to recycle you over and over again. God bless.
Pastor Sung