I am reminded of a story about a small child who, day after day, watched a sculptor working on a marble slab. At last there came the moment when the child caught her breath in amazement and said to the sculptor, “But how did you know there was a lion in there?” It is said that Michelangelo sculptured his statue “David” by taking a block of granite and chipping away everything that wasn’t David. This is the basic process by which God forms us and molds us to be a useful part of His Kingdom… a vessel of honor. He starts with nothing but a piece of clay and then He molds us and chips away at everything that doesn't look like Jesus.
If you have had experience in ceramics or pottery, you know the process by which you can create a beautiful work of art. First you take a piece of clay. Now it may be old and partially dried out and crusty; much like most of our hearts are when we first come to Jesus. Though we receive a new spirit at the second birth, there is still the “old self” to be dealt with. Too often we subconsciously think that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He somehow turns a magic key and all our hurts, sorrows and failures will go away. Not so! He has provided everything we need to live in perfection, however, we must learn to appropriate His provisions into our lives by daily renewing our minds by the Word of God and meditating on that Word day and night until it becomes life to our souls and breath to our very being. Another common misconception seems to be that God uses the same mold, the same pattern to shape everyone, and therefore we sometimes act as though those around us should fit into our concept of what a Christian should be like.
I recall an incident when I was new in my relationship with the Lord and understood little about what a Christian really is. Someone made a comment like, “I thought you were a Christian.” My immediate response was, “I’m trying to be.” I had a perfect idea of what a Christian was supposed to be like, and I knew I definitely did not fit that pattern. But what I didn’t realize was that I was, at that moment, as much a Christian as I would ever be. The truth is that no one will be an exact replica of ourselves, and we will never be just like someone else, no matter how hard we try. Praise God He doesn’t use the same mold twice. We should be thankful that our God sees each of us as a unique creation, individual in our needs and desires, and He molds us in proportion to our individuality. Once, after a particularly difficult person had left the room, I said something to another person to the effect that I couldn’t understand how people could be that way. The person I was speaking to was not a Christian, but he made one of the wisest statements I have ever heard, and it had an impact on my life. He said, “Yes, but it sure would be boring if we were all alike.” How right he was! Thank God He deals with us right at the heart of who we are. How wonderful of our Father to be so wise.
But, back on the Potter’s wheel, when the Potter finds just the right lump of clay, the one which is the right size and shape, He begins to work it and knead it in His hands adding moisture as necessary, all the while patiently seeing in the eyes of His faith, not what He holds in His hands at that moment, but what He knows He can and will make of the clay. He chips away the hardened crust, and patiently kneads it until it becomes pliable in His hands. Even this most basic step is done with the utmost care and painstaking effort. Now He may begin to shape and form His vessel. He pushes in here, pulls out there, adding to, taking away from. Over and over again He examines His creation as though through a magnifying glass, searching for any and all imperfections that may not look like what He intends as His finished vessel. What a loving Artist our Father is. Is it any wonder that we, as the Potter’s vessels, endure such pain as He renews our very being and shapes us into the likeness of His Son? Is it any mystery how far from that image we began, and how much the Potter has progressed so far?
As His work continues, at last our shaping process is completed and we are grounded and rooted in our faith. Then we begin to experience the testing of our faith. Just as each formed vessel must withstand the heat of the kiln, we too must undergo the test of fire.
The kiln in the Potter’s work serves a twofold purpose. First, it serves to test the vessel’s strength. A piece of pottery that is made of impure or second-rate material will crumble and fall apart in the fire. Such is also true of a faith that is grounded on anything other than Jesus Christ. It will not stand the test of fire. Second, it serves to prepare and purify the vessel for use. When the vessel is removed from the kiln, it should be well able to withstand constant use by the Potter, and any impurities should have been melted away by the intense heat. What the Potter holds before Him now is a vessel of honor, fit for the Master’s use.
In light of what we have learned about the making of a vessel, let’s stop here and ask ourselves few questions. “Where am I right now in my Potter’s shaping process? Am I continually being formed in the image of His Son? Have I allowed my faith to be put on a shelf, half formed, to be wasted? Am I staying in the Word of God that I might be prepared for the fire, the testing of my faith? Has He been turning up the fires of testing and proving my usefulness and strengthening me as I learn to depend upon Him completely?" Each servant of God must endure hardships, but even these are for our good. If we can stand strong in the small trials, our faith will increase as God proves His faithfulness in each area of our lives.
It is said, “No pain, no gain.” Peter reminds us “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, (and here’s the good part) that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (I Peter 4:12-13)
What are the ways of the Potter? While we see brokenness and pain, He sees the finished product. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) From glory to glory, mountaintop to mountaintop, praise His wonderful Name!
God is faithful, even in the midst of the fire, even in the depths of the sea. Let each of us begin now to assure the firmness of our foundations so that we might stand firm in the midst of the fire. And then…hold on tight…He will not fail!!
Prayer: Father, I know that You have been busily molding me into the vessel that You desire to fill the purposes that You created me to fill. Father, sometime it's really difficult, and sometimes I am not sure that I will make it through the fire. But You Father are always faithful, and always present so that You assure me of my success and that You will bring through even stronger than before. I praise You my Father, for Your amazing love and mercy in my life. Thank You for bringing me through the fires of testing and always being with me. In Jesus' Name...Amen
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