Jars of Clay

Why was I born like this? Did God make a mistake?

Welcome to the latest edition of my Blog!
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflecting on a song by King and Country, Priceless. Click HERE to see a lyrics video.

Mirror, mirror
Mirror on the wall
Tellin’ those lies
Pointing out your flaws
That isn’t who you are
That isn’t who you are

The potter was so efficient in his work of art. All his creations were sold as soon as placed on the selling table. The potter had a reputation for his attention to detail and the perfection in his creations were so evident. One day, the potter could not understand why a new creation he designed started to be marred with spots and imperfections when the product finally came out of the furnace. He examined the raw material and his blueprint, all checked out just like he wanted it. Something was damaging the process before it was completed. It turned out the furnace became contaminated and was creating more heat that was required to cure the finished product.

So it does happen that no matter how much a jar of clay is designed, sometimes imperfections will sneak in the final product. A blueprint, a mold, or DNA, might start out perfect, but it most stay perfect through out the whole process of the final product.

We are like these jars of clay. We are formed from the earth, from dust, by our Creator, God. But unlike the jars of clay we make, we are designed in PERFECTION. But something happened after the fall of man in the garden of Eden. The blueprint, the DNA of these jars of clay (us) are perfect, but the finished product is not. The finish product is very imperfect, in fact, sometimes it does not resemble anything a Perfect God will create.

Perceived Reality

Nothing will test our faith more than to see children born with birth defects. Children born blind, disfigured, without extremities, etc. It is too much to take. Some of us will blame God, saying if there is a good God, why does He allows this kind of suffering on such an innocent being?

After the fall of man, creation also fell and is groaning up until today. Babies are formed in a womb who is subject to so many chemicals that disrupt the DNA of the baby. Creating a final product that was not intended by God. Sometimes we look in the mirror, and we do not like what we see. We wish on a different reality.

But we have hope:

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:22-25 NKJV

Yes, hope that is seen is not hope. So we eagerly wait for the real thing.

Reality

Let’s see what the Bible says about who we are and what we are in God:

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. Psalms 139:14-16 NKJV

We are wonderfully made in the secret place. But after the fall of man, the evil one will stop at nothing to ensure God’s creation is not seen as what God intended. If we could only SEE through the eyes of God when we look at ourselves in the mirror. We will see the person God intended from the secret place.

The disciples asked Jesus about a man that was born blind. Like some of us today, the disciples thought that the man was cursed, punished by God for something his parent did. They asked Jesus, who sinned, the father or the mother?

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. John 9:3 NKJV

Today we see imperfection, and we blame God. Someday, God will use the evil in the fall of man for His Glory, as Jesus explained to His disciples. These things happen so that the Glory of God will be manifested.

When?

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 NKJV

Application

We shall ALL be changed! This corruptible body will be done away with and a new body, an incorruptible body will be given to us who trust the Lord Jesus Christ and have not believed the lies of the devil.

This new body will be PERFECT just like it was made in the secret place by God! We will look in the mirror and say WOW! That is so Wonderfully made!

Until then then, these Jars of Clay, no matter how imperfect, will praise God, and patiently wait on Him. Even if they are mortal now, the treasure inside is immortal and PERFECT:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

By Him, For Him!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  2 Corinthians 13:14