The Potter and the Clay

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheel. And the vessel that lie made with 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" (Jer. 18: 14). 

We have before us a striking picture lesson of God's method in dealing with souls.

The Bible is the geography of Christian experience, and if properly studied would greatly help us in locating ourselves, and also help us to recognize the different climes, hills, valleys, sloughs and deserts that we often pass, as we journey homeward. We are often perplexed and confused over the various and sudden changes in our spiritual climate. Besides we are often confused and perplexed when we suddenly descend from one of Beulah's high hills of ecstasy into the valley below. But if we are familiar with the geography of Christian experience we can readily locate ourselves and thus save ourselves from many a storm of doubt and fear. Ofttimes when new beginners in the Christian life make one of these sudden changes from the mount of ecstasy to the vale of duty, or the wilderness of temptation, they are so confused and perplexed that they almost cast away their confidence and conclude that they are backslidden.

Let us closely observe a few points of interest found in this lesson. We will notice, God here likens Himself to the potter and Israel to the clay. But for our general edification, I will enlarge upon the subject.

My purpose in this lesson is to point out the two works of grace, viz., Justification and Sanctification, and also mention a few methods God uses in preparing souls for His service.

First, the clay had to be gathered and separated from the clay bank and brought to the potter. Just so it is with souls who get converted. They are separated from the world and are brought to the Savior and remain in His house and favor

Second, the clay, after reaching the potter's hands, had to be thoroughly cleansed from all uncongenial substances, such as gravel, sticks, weeds, etc. Is not this an excellent picture of the justified man or woman After being brought to Christ and enjoying His favor, there is a substance within them that has to be removed. David found it out in the 51st Psalm. Isaiah found it out in the 6th chapter of Isaiah. The disciples found it out on the day of Pentecost, and millions of God's children in every age have made the same discovery.

Third, the clay had to be made passive, so that it could be easily fashioned. So it is when the soul is cleansed and filled with the Holy Ghost. It becomes perfectly passive in the hand of the heavenly Potter. Therefore it is willing to go anywhere, be anything, do anything and suffer anything for its blessed Lord.

A fourth point of interest about the clay is, the potter placed it upon a wheel, to fashion and shape it for a special service. This is one of the most difficult lessons sanctified people are called to learn, viz., the wheel lesson. When they get saved and sanctified, they expect to go to heaven on a bed of roses (so to speak). They do not expect to ever have temptations, trials or hardships. They think because they are living right and aiming to do right by all mankind, that they will be loved by all and not opposed by any, but it is a great mistake.

The question may arise here, Of what does this fashioning on the wheel consist The spiritual definition of this "wheel" is, "A chain of circumstances." Now, since the lives of Job and Joseph so accurately and beautifully described the fashioning on the wheel; since they were both sanctified, holy men, let us notice a few points of interest in their lives.

Observe! Job's experience and trials were largely on external things. Therefore we will notice the different "external wheels" the Divine Potter used in shaping and making him a monument of patience to all generations.

First, God put him on the wheel of poverty. It is a common saying among some people that "if people are sanctified and holy as they claim, they would have plenty of everything," but this is not scriptural. Job and Paul were among the best men that ever lived, and they both took a course on "poverty wheel." Paul said, "As poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor. 6: 10).

The second wheel which God placed holy, sanctified Job upon was affliction's wheel. There is not a more trying and testing place in the catalogue of the Christian experience, nor is there a greater incentive to fretting and complaining, than when the body is racked with pain and affliction. But God's grace proves sufficient in this trying place. Some fanatics teach that if a man has genuine holiness he will never get sick, but that teaching does not harmonize with Job's experience.

The third wheel on which the Divine Potter placed holy Job was the wheel of domestic trouble. Job's wife married him (no doubt) for his wealth and beauty, but when he lost them both, and was sitting in the ashes covered with running sores, she lost her love for him and commenced to make trouble in the home.

There comes a time with every true follower of Christ, when he will have to fully decide who will have the preeminence in his heart, God or his family and loved ones. Many a good man and woman has failed to stand the test here; when the final issue came, it seemed that if they would continue to stick to God and the "narrow way" they were going to lose their husband, wife, home, relations, etc., etc. But Job, notwithstanding, sitting on the ash heap and covered with sores from head to foot, and sneered at by his wife and mocked by his friends, chose God and kept the "family god" dethroned. Reader, is God finding this loyalty in you

Now since the lives of Job and Joseph were our object lessons, let us proceed to paraphrase the life of Joseph. Where Job's suffering was brought about by the loss of external things, Joseph's were brought about by unalterable circumstances and internal grief. God knows perfectly well how to arrange tests and circumstances to get us ready to sit upon a throne. O reader, do let Him have His way with you!

Let us briefly notice some of the wheels God used in shaping Joseph for the throne. The first was the wheel of sorrow. Hundreds have had a similar call, but through it all God's grace has proved sufficient!

The second wheel that was used in fashioning and shaping holy Joseph was the wheel of sexual charm. God does not save souls and put them in a bandbox nor a hothouse. He sanctifies them and throws them out into the world to be proved and tested. There are but few holy souls in the world who have not been thoroughly tested on the wheel of sexual charm. But it takes all of this to get us ready for the throne. Hallelujah!

The third wheel upon which Joseph was placed was the wheel of slander and loss of reputation. Indeed, this is a bitter pill to a soul who is striving to do right and have every one believe in him. But God's grace proved sufficient in this trying and difficult place.

The fourth and last wheel that we take time to mention here, on which he was placed, was the wheel of "imprisonment," i. e., "the shut-in life." This, no doubt, tried Joseph's faith, patience, and grace more than any other. But God helped him to hold still and be true in this difficult place. God sometimes shuts us in and spoils our plans, and ties our hands, and holds us still until He can prove to us that His grace is sufficient to keep us everywhere and under all circumstances.