A real Mess

 Jeremiah 18:1-4

The first time I heard my pastor say we are all messed up in our heart and mind, I knew he was speaking truth, but another voice I refer to as coming from Channel One said, I agree, but you're not as messed up as many of these pew sitters.  And before I knew what was happening that voice was telling me about how I gave and how I performed another voice, let’s call it Channel Two, or the Holy Spirit.   That voice was saying listen to my spokesman, for I know you, I see what others cannot see, and Bob, you’re a mess. 

It did not come as any great surprise that God’s ways are higher than mine, and His thoughts higher than mine, that often I allow the world to mold me, and God the Potter has all authority to mess with His design.   So let’s go to where the rubber meets the road, have you come to that point in your walk with Jesus, have you told Him to do what is needed to make you less of a mess and more like Him?  That is the cry of my heart, but Channel One volume is so loud, and the world still has a draw on my flesh, my desires get ahead of my needs.   It is a constant battle not to want to be first in line, to be praised by men, and not willing to sit and listen to the voice of Truth, the one I refer to as Channel Two.

As I read the first verse of Jeremiah 18, “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.”  How often have you heard the word that comes from the Lord?  Sure you read the Scripture as do I, but are you and am I taking action on those words?  That gives me real concern, not about you but I am I hearing the Lord?  Jeremiah was not only listening but was willing to do as instructed. 

Look at verses 2-4, “So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.”  Now it is evident the Potter is our Lord, and we are the clay, and when our clay gets spoiled, the Potter is going to rework it.  Clay has no pain, but the Father knows a reworking will often bring pain only to bring peace and joy as we grasp whose hands we are in.  The prophet Isaiah gives us this insight in Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Foolish people want a God like themselves; they foolishly believe they are in lockstep with Him, and when encountering God there is no delight in Him for He is not the God they serve.  In Romans 9:19-21 Paul tells us about such a person: “You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?”  Now one response to this Scripture will tell all about whom you are worshiping.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice