(Jer 18:1-4 KJV) The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
This week I am sharing messages with you from previous series’. This morning’s message comes from series entitled: “The Greatest Stories Ever Told.” This actual message was sent out November 3, 2004, while we were waiting on the verdict of the Presidential race. It is the story of the Potter and the Clay. Enjoy:
There is a lot I could say about this story and I have shared messages from it in the past, but I am led to share from this story this morning with the current state of our nation in mind. The verdict is still not out on the Presidential race, but the verdict has long been out on the condition of our country. This election has exposed a polarized nation. We have been through a great deal in the last four years. From Anthrax and terrorist attacks, to several wars on several fronts, to fighting a faceless and nationless enemy, to tearing down regimes, to a roller coaster economy, to importing medicine from Canada – this nation has been like the clay on the potter’s wheel. Which leads me to our story.
God told Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house and that he would receive a Word (message) there from what he saw. He saw a potter working a work on his wheel with some clay. He then saw something significant. The potter looked down and did not like what he saw, because the vessel he was working on was marred (damaged). This caused the potter to smash it and make it all over again, into something that pleased him. The good news is, however, that while the clay was enduring the smashing and remaking process, it was still on the wheel. The vessel might have been marred, but the potter was not through with it. It might have been damaged, but it was still destined.
So what does this mean to you and to our country this today? A few things:
1. The Potter did not start the work until He finished it in his mind: God knows what plans He has for us individually and as a nation (Jer 29:11). He declares the end from the beginning (Is 46:10). Just like a contractor does not start on a house until the plans are completed, God already has the plan and He finished it before we were born – that is our Destiny!
2. The Potter selects the clay and begins the process: Clay on a potter’s wheel endures shaping, molding, making, bending, and etc. As people and as a nation, we have been through this molding process in the hands of God. Sometimes painful, but always productive – the potter knows what He is doing.
3. The Potter periodically checks the progress: The unique part of this story is that the clay (us) has a choice in the outcome of the vessel. So the potter periodically checks to see that His work is not in vain, that what He planned for the vessel to look like is actually coming to fruition. The potter is displeased when he looks down to a marred (damaged) vessel. If the clay ever gets to this point, it is because of the stubbornness or non-cooperation of the clay.
4. The only true way to fix marred clay is to SMASH IT and start again: No doubt we have parts of our clay that are democrat and republican, liberal and conservative, independent and frustrated. Whatever the outcome of the presidential race, my prayer is that God smashes us all together and continues His work on our great nation.
5. The Good News is that the Clay, although SMASHED, is still on the wheel: We can find hope in knowing that God loves us enough to SMASH us, but not throw us away! If the potter were to remove the clay from the wheel, then he would have given up hope altogether. We – individually and collectively – are still on the wheel. Polarized, but still pressing! Frustrated, but still faithful! Heated, but still hopeful! Damaged, but Still Destined!
We are still on the wheel. The Best is Yet to Come!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for working with me and for working in and through the citizens of our great nation. I come up against deceit, deception, and dismay. I pray that Your hope would abound in the hearts of every believer in the United States so that we, as a nation, may look forward with great anticipation and expectation of what You will do in and through our lives. Our future is bright. I also pray a hedge of protection round about our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Civilians deployed. Protect them, keep them, shield them, bless them, and encourage them and their families while they are separated. Damaged, but still destined. Hampered, but still hopeful! Forward ever, backward never! The best is yet to come! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
