(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 morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” In yesterday’s message I wrote about success (understanding your purpose and completing it before you die) and how to go about achieving it (find it, follow it, and finish it). In this message I will wrap up the story of Jeremiah’s trip to the potter’s house. It’s fitting that I am talking this story today. It’s my birthday and I am celebrating 40 wonderful years of life. I have many more years to go before I arrive at God’s desired destination for my life, but I am thankful for the first 40. These 40 years have not been challenge-free and I have made my fair share of mistakes, but I am thankful that I am still alive and still on the potter’s wheel. My God, the Master Potter, is not through making and shaping me. So let’s seek to glean some final nuggets:
1. The Potter selected the clay from the earth: You were divinely selected by the Hand of God. You are not here by mistake and not a result of chance (see Jer 1:5, 29:11, Ro 8:28-30).
2. The Potter did not start the work until He finished it: Meaning that the plans for the end product were completed before He ever got started on the clay. The plans for a house (in most cities) must be completed and approved by the city before the work can ever get started! You must understand that Your Future is God’s Past! God has already setup Your Success! He knew your end from the beginning. Our role is to have the discipline to make the decisions that will take you there.
3. The Potter starts with a cleaning and initial shaping process: After the clay is selected an in the hands of the potter, the potter seeks to remove all debris before he places it on the wheel. When we come to God we are full of debris (worldly junk) and He seeks to clean us up through the renewing of our mind. This process of cleaning us up (our desires, lifestyle, habits, mannerisms, etc.) can be painful and uncomfortable, but it is done with our best interest in mind.
4. The clay must cooperate with the Potter: Since God is the Potter in this story, to say that the Potter made a mistake is to say that the Potter is not Sovereign. God does not make mistakes, but He does allow us to make choices. Some times we make choices that contradict God’s plan for our lives. At this point, God will look down at us and see that we are “marred.” This word means damaged, flawed, and faulty.
5. The only true way to fix marred clay is to SMASH and RESHAPE it: God looks down at us from time to time and realizes that our decisions that contradict His plan have caused us to become something He did not intend. Although painful, He seeks to reshape us into His image.
6. 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 keep working on us without giving up and throwing us away. We may not be the prettiest piece of clay, but we are still on the wheel!
So what does this mean to you today? It means that no matter who you are and no matter how badly you may have messed up, the mere fact that you are still alive and still breathing is evidence that God is not through making you! I have been teaching you about being faithful to God, but I also want you to know that God is faithful to you. You may be damaged, but you are still destined! You are still on God’s wheel and He will keep working on you. The process will become a lot more enjoyable if you simply submit to His plan!
Closing Confession: Father, I am not yet perfect, but I am striving for perfection. I want You to make me into the vessel You have destined me to be. I submit to the re-shaping process. My mind is renewed through the Word of God. I walk in accordance with Your Word. I live my life in accordance with Your Will. I submit this day and every day to your Way! Make me into the person You pictured (before the foundations of the world) that I would be. As I become that person I am also becoming more and more like You! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
