Pliable Clay or Silly Putty?
Text: Jer. 18:1-6
What substance are you?
If only a vase could speak. It started out as an ugly chunk of dough, placed upon the wheel of the potter, spun around uncountable times with pressure applied; shaping and reshaping. Then it was sent to a ferociously hot furnace, where the hours seemed like an eternity. Afterwards, it went through a period of cooling and then coated over with paints and varnish. Finally, it was set in the store window with a mirror at its backside. Now, most would understand that is was worthwhile.
Silly Putty can be purchased at the dollar store. It can be shaped quickly into different forms and then rolled back up in a ball. Cute as the moldings may be, they never really come to have any value.
We must trust God in His expert designing. Each of us are unique and wonderfully made. As humans, we need also to understand that our sins have marred the vessel and we must be willing to return to the potter's wheel to be perfected.
Rom. 9:20,21
20 Antes que nada, oh hombre, ¿quién eres tú para que contradigas a Dios? ¿Dirá el vaso formado al que lo formó: "¿Por qué me hiciste así?" (SRVA)
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (KJV)
21 ¿O no tiene autoridad el alfarero sobre el barro para hacer de la misma masa un vaso para uso honroso y otro para uso común? (SRVA)
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? (KJV)
Contentment comes from understanding and accepting that God made you as you are: white, brown, or black; tall or short; blue, green, or brown eyes; blonde or brunette; etc.
The Potter selects with care the material that He uses to create His vessels.
The old songs says "when He was on the cross, I was on His mind".
Jer. 29:11
11 Porque yo sé los planes que tengo acerca de vosotros, dice Jehovah, planes de bienestar y no de mal, para daros porvenir y esperanza. (SRVA)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)
His EYES are upon us:
18 El ojo de Jehovah está sobre los que le temen, sobre los que esperan en su misericordia, (SRVA)
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; (KJV)
His FEET are upon us. The potter takes the clay and steps all over it to remove any air pockets.
His HANDS are upon us. He handles the clay, molding it into a vessel of honor.
His ANOINTING is upon us. The varnish has oil spirits that are applied to the fired vase.
His NAME is upon us. An expert potter places his mark of distinction on his work. It is his signature.
Isa. 45:9
9 ¡Ay del que contiende con su Hacedor, siendo nada más que un pedazo de tiesto entre los tiestos de tierra! ¿Dirá el barro al que le da forma: "¿Qué haces?" o "Tu obra no tiene asas"? (SRVA)
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? (KJV)
The finished and final work of the vessel really lies in our hands. Though God forms things perfectly, man has been given a free will. The work of the Master is subject to our personal will.
God calls us clay. But there are some types of clay that are not useful in their current state.
I. Dried out Clay
This is like the one who came to Christ, but then did not allow the Lord to deal with them. They became dry and hard, of no use for the Master.
2 P 2:20-22
20 Porque si los que se han escapado de las contaminaciones del mundo por el conocimiento de nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo se enredan de nuevo en ellas y son vencidos, el último estado les viene a ser peor que el primero. (SRVA)
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (KJV)
21 Pues mejor les habría sido no haber conocido el camino de justicia, que después de conocerlo, volver atrás del santo mandamiento que les fue dado. (SRVA)
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered u. nto them. (KJV)
22 A ellos les ha ocurrido lo del acertado proverbio: El perro se volvió a su propio vómito; y "la puerca lavada, a revolcarse en el cieno". (SRVA)
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (KJV)
God may need to break the will of a backslider to bring them back home. Such was the
case with Gomer, the wife of Hosea. (Hosea 2:6)
Paul gives us a similiar example in one of his letters.
1 Co. 5:4,5
4 En el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesús, reunidos vosotros y mi espíritu con el poder de nuestro Señor Jesús, (SRVA)
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (KJV)
5 entregad al tal a Satanás para la destrucción de la carne, a fin de que su espíritu sea salvo en el día del Señor. (SRVA)
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (KJV)
II. Clay lacking Moisture
This is like the person who gets saved, but has not cultivated his spiritual being. He is rather immature. They are gambling with their faith. They want to go to heaven, in spite of their weak strivings.
1 Co. 3:12-15
12 Si alguien edifica sobre este fundamento con oro, plata, piedras preciosas, madera, heno u hojarasca, (SRVA)
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (KJV)
13 la obra de cada uno será evidente, pues el día la dejará manifiesta. Porque por el fuego será revelada; y a la obra de cada uno, sea la que sea, el fuego la probará. (SRVA)
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (KJV)
14 Si permanece la obra que alguien ha edificado sobre el fundamento, él recibirá recompensa. (SRVA)
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (KJV)
15 Si la obra de alguien es quemada, él sufrirá pérdida; aunque él mismo será salvo, pero apenas, como por fuego. (SRVA)
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)
These are not bad people, just people who are only living for the present.
What is lacking? Water = the HOLY SPIRIT
III. Clay with Air Pockets
This speaks of hidden sin. On the surface it looks good, but those defects will be revealed further along in the process.
As the formed vessel is placed in the fire, the heat begins to penetrate. If there be any air pockets, the whole vessel will explode.
Ps. 90:7,8
7 ¶ Porque con tu furor somos consumidos, y con tu ira somos turbados. (SRVA)
7 ¶ For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. (KJV)
8 Has puesto nuestras maldades delante de ti; nuestros secretos están ante la luz de tu rostro. (SRVA)
8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (KJV)
Be assured that sooner or later, your defects will be found out. Better that you jump back up on the potter's wheel and have him make you again.
Mt. 10:26
26 "Así que, no les temáis. Porque no hay nada encubierto que no será revelado, ni oculto que no será conocido. (SRVA)
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. (KJV)
Prov. 28:13
13 ¶ El que encubre sus pecados no prosperará, pero el que los confiesa y los abandona alcanzará misericordia. (SRVA)
13 ¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (KJV)
Keys: 1. confess 2. forsake
Don't resist the wheel nor the oven. They are necessary in order for the vessel to be beautiful and resistant--to be a vessel of honor.
