God's Masterpiece

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2014
Today's Chapters: Jeremiah 18-21
Message Title: God's Masterpiece

When I was in the fifth grade I made a candy dish out of clay, I rolled it out flat, cut it, then molded it into the shape of a heart. It sat for a while to dry, then it was baked in a really hot oven. After it was taken out and cooled, I painted it and it got baked once again. It seemed to take a long time, but when I was done I was very proud of the masterpiece I had made. One day, it fell, and had broken, it was not shattered, but it could no longer hold anything, I tried to fix it, but it was never the same. You know, we are much like clay, we get molded, shaped, dried out, baked, painted, and baked again, into who we want to be, only to be broken so that we can become God's masterpiece. “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” - 2 Timothy 2:-20,21.
Clay, it's merely some form of the earth mixed with water, but once it becomes the mud like substance, it can be molded and shaped into anything. God sends Jeremiah to a potter to show him how the potter continues to mold and shape the clay until it is perfect. “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. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” - Jeremiah 18:4-8.

The mars or scars of life, many of them cause hurt and pain that never goes away. However, if we allow Christ to live in and through us, little by little, God will remove them. We are going to have to put some stinging ointment on them, but once we do, God will mend us and heal us. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” - Hebrews 12:11-13.
What happens after the clay is set and the pot hardens, it's useful for whatever need it has been made for. Now, what happens when the vessel gets broken? That depends on how many pieces it is in. God sends Jeremiah to break a clay pot in front those who know Him, but refuse to listen, and explains exactly what will happen if they do not heed the warning of His judgment. “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter. Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee, And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury. Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:” - Jeremiah 19:6,10-12.

Tophet, means drum, and is also known as hell, it was a town east of Jerusalem where children were burnt to the false god Moloch or Baal, and the drums were used to drown their cries. I cried when I learned of this, it still breaks my heart because the same thing still goes on today, only in the form of abortion. Life, in the womb or not, is precious, and no one has the right to take that away. We are all sinners, things happen, but that does not give us the right to live as we please and destroy lives in the process. While God is longsuffering and forgiving, He is not a fool. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7.

One thing we have to be aware of as God makes His masterpiece is the affliction we will face for just doing what He asked us to do. Now, things are starting to get crazy in Judah, the people are in a stir about what is happening, and they are blaming Jeremiah. Jeremiah gets arrested, and asks God why he was the one being afflicted. “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.” - Jeremiah 20:7-9,11,12.

It did not take long for Jeremiah to come to his senses, realizing that God was with him, and knew exactly what was going on. Nevertheless, God answers Jeremiah with the judgment He is about to place on the city. “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence. He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.” - Jeremiah 21:4-6,9.

It use to bother me greatly, it still does sometimes, to see people that I know who are saved doing God knows what and enjoying life, when I am trying to do everything right and struggle every day. You know the saying, “What goes around comes around.”? That's exactly what happens, we may not see it for a while, but those who live wicked lives will lose, while those who do not will prosper. Those who are saved, by the blood of Christ, are new and useful for the purpose God has made them for. In out lifetime here on earth, He molds, shapes, dries, bakes, paints, and bakes again in order to make a great masterpiece. Sometimes He might have to break us, but He will put is back together again. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” - Proverbs 3:11,12.
Today's Prayer: God, I realize that every thing I go through is not always a punishment, but simply You removing the mars in me, and perfecting me. I know that there is no way I will ever be perfect, but I have Your perfect Son in me to help me be the vessel You want me to be. Lord, give me Your power to endure the struggles I face, give me Your strength to stand with You through them all, and heal all the broken pieces. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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