On The Shelf, Marred Clay?

ON THE SHELF, MARRED CLAY --- USELSS?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

MARRED CLAY? ON THE SHELF?

Jeremiah 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 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. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 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.

ON THE SHELF? WHEN YOU FINISH A GOOD BOOK, OFTEN THE BOOK GOES BACK TO A SHELF AND THERE IT WILL GATHER DUST, USELESS ON THE SHELF…

To become useful again someone will have to reach to the shelf and pull it down. We don’t throw the book away…

CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES THHAT MAY NOT SHOW AS A WEAKNESS FOR YEARS LATER.

2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

David takes a trip to the shelf and has limited usefulness. DAVID HAS MANY GOOD DAYS AHEAD, BUT DAVID’S POOR CHOICES PUT HIM ON THE SHELF, THE MIGHTY WARRIER CANNOT FACE THE GIIANTS ANY MORE.

2 Samuel 21:15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND GOD CAN STILL USE FALLEN, BROKEN MEN. GOD NEVER THROWS AWAY PEOPLE.

Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

THROW AWAY THE CLAY? NEVER, GOD RECYCLES PEOPLE?

Many years ago one of the most successful preachers in the mountains of east Kentucky had a terrible failure. Everyone in the region heard of this preacher’s success was now broadcasting his failure. He lost his family, his home, his life’s dream. He lost the radio ministry and the large church that his family had grown. He inherited this work, and he pastored the work very successfully. The politicians wanted his friendship. Let us skip some of the dark issues. This Preacher ended up several years in prison and he was a disgrace to the cross and his family. His wife divorced him. His children disowned him. His financial foundation was lost to lawyers and settling out of court cases. His name was mud in the community. FAILURE! MOST OF ALL HE FAILED HIS FAMILY AND JESUS CHRIST. FAILURE!

In prison he cried himself to sleep every night. How could he fallen so far. His FAMILY refused to pick him up when he finished his prison term. He returned to his home area and no one would talk to him. Failure, failure. He cried, his trail was a trail of tears. “HE WAS THE MAN” no one loved.

So to escape he moved deep in the mountains. God was dealing with him. He found an old dilapidated church. The moonshine stiles were active, several churches in the area were snake handlers. He knew the Bible. He started living under the church. He worked very hard and when he saved money he replaced the windows. He had a new chance. He witnessed and witnessed to others. One of the worse abusive men in the county started talking to him, they developed a relationship. The mean man found out the FALLEN PREACHER lived in an area under the church. The church was a failure just like the Preacher. But the fallen man cleaned up the church and started praying and dreaming in the church.