31 July 2014 - works in progress

31 July 2014 - works in progress

I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, 
working at the wheel.
Whenever the object of clay which he was making
turned out badly in his hand, 
he tried again,
making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased.

When we see the potter making things that turn out badly we might think, is he even good at this? Maybe he should have been a farmer or something. But maybe the problem isn't with the potter. Maybe the clay is sub-par.  Maybe the potter is showing it great favor by even using it to make his objects.  Perhaps this material takes a longer time than good clay would take. Perhaps it needs to be fashioned and refashioned in order to become malleable enough to truly serve the end for which he intends it.

One upshot to this is that if we don't immediately find ourselves as paragons exemplifying the life of grace that is OK.  That can be a part of God's plan.  After all ,"does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one?" (cf. Rom. 9:21) Even the first revision, the broken one, the one which will eventually be revised, is something shaped by God's hand.  We are permitted to not only accept the process of our lives but to embrace it, to delight in it as the tender care of God for us.  It is a good way to take some of the difficult passages from Paul's letter to the Romans.  He asks, "What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction?"  He shows his power, patience, and mercy by working with us every step of the process.  The vessels intended for destruction are not souls headed for hell.  They are the old versions of ourselves which are cast off as God makes us newer and better.

We are the earthen vessels he is shaping into more and more fitting containers for the treasure in the field, the pearl of great price.  He is the treasure and he himself shapes the vessels that contain it "that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us" (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7).

The LORD does not create anyone for destruction.  He casts a wide net to collect "fish of every kind" which he hauls ashore with his own strength.  He does not delight to throw any fish away. What fisherman does, really?  Who is wants a catch he can't use?  Why would he even be fishing?  God is an artist who wants to make good use of all the clay he has.  We can even imagine that he likes the challenge of working with materials that challenge him.  He is patient, to be sure, but we can even imagine a playful spirit with which he meets these challenges.

Can I not do to you, house of Israel,
as this potter has done? says the LORD.
Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter,
so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

The lesson, then? Insofar as we can, of course, be maleable to the touch of the potter. But trust God and his process for us.  There are going to be multiple revisions.  Embrace even the broken as a gift.  But don't get too attached to it because it is ultimately a vessel for destruction. After all, "what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (cf. 1 Joh. 3:2).  In the cross and resurrection of Jesus we see the final revision of the masterwork of the potter.  It is a preview of the great art show of God when one day we will all be completely incorporated into the work.  Let us wait in great hope with docile hearts for that day.

Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God.
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.