Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
The Apostle Paul provides us perspective about a subtle truth that many overlook in their interaction with others. Our Heavenly Father formed each of us, HE is the Potter. We are all made from the same “lump of clay”. As we have been discussing in our Sunday Bible study, the non-quantum state of Divine Intent is totally motivated by Love thus all of creation is created out of Love and has Love at its core nature. If Love is truly the Divine Intent of every molecule in a vessel of clay then why does one vessel result in honor and the other in dishonor? Love gives the vessel the opportunity to choose its path- life or death, honor or dishonor. Each of us came from the same dust.
Your current state as a vessel is determined by your “wellness”. Wellness is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential. How do you maximize your potential? By operating in your gifts and calling. By studying the Scripture and deciding daily to pursue the Truth that has been revealed to you. By choosing grace and mercy over judgment. By seeking relationships with others rather than finding fault. By sacrificing “self” for the benefit of others. The purpose of a vessel is for use by the maker. If it is not useful, it isn’t needed in its current state. What does a potter do with a vessel that isn’t fulfilling its purpose? He grinds it back down to powder then adds water and reshapes it into a useful vessel. Jesus said to the chief priests and Pharisees:
Matthew 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
In His parable, Jesus spoke of the wicked servants. They had chosen the path of dishonor and those who have chosen this path will not be selected as one of the “stones” to build HIS Temple. Our Heavenly Father makes the best use of resources. HE does not get rid of the powder. Instead HE applies water of HIS Spirit to the powder and reshapes the lump into a new vessel, a vessel of honor. A conversion takes place, not elimination of a soul.
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 you to hear My words.”
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
Our Heavenly Father is in the business of restoration, not destruction. We too should be in the business of restoration. Are your actions restoring or destroying? We are to be a light unto the world and light brings revelation to the darkness.
The state of your vessel is affected by past choices. As you have taken the path of death and destruction, your vessel moves into judgment. Do you think that if you constantly abuse your body with drugs that there will not be some type of judgment associated with those past actions? Do you think that if you constantly exalted yourself over others that there will be no ramification to your acts? We must seek HIS Grace and Mercy to nullify our past choices that led us down the path of death and destruction. At an absolute minimum, quit doing anything until you know what to do correctly. Stop! Begin dwelling and meditating on HIS Word and only do what is revealed to you. If you can’t say something good and life-giving, shut up, say nothing. Quit sowing seeds of death and destruction, your destruction.
Your past reflects your ability to deal with life. When you have neglected, abused, or denied Love, you have removed the essential attribute needed to deal with life. Your lawlessness can be attributed to the level of your revelation of Love. The closer you move to the Potter and HIS Divine Intent, the greater your understanding of Love. As you understand HIS Divine Intent, you become a useful vessel, a vessel of honor. The Apostle Paul, a vessel of dishonor(Saul) was transformed into a vessel of honor(Paul). His example should be comforting to all who are concerned about the current state of their “vessel”.