Vessels of Honor

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 'Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I shall show thee My Words.'  Then I went down to the potter's house and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay, was broken in the hand of the potter, so he returned, and made it another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
                                                                                                                            (Jeremiah 18:1-4).

     Long before Jesus was born, vessels of clay were produced. There are many methods of clay being shaped, but, in this particular passage of Jeremiah, the clay is being molded on the potter's wheel. Symbolically, the potter represents God and men are the clay that God molds on His wheel.
     The process is as follows: the Potter takes a ball of clay and throws it (also means to twist and turn it) onto the center of the wheel. The ball of clay is pressed, squeezed, and pulled upwards into a hollow shape as the wheel rotates round and round. It is then centered into a symmetrical form, opened, floored (develops the foundation), thrown, pulled, and trimmed.
     It takes incredible skill and expertise to use this method. If the clay still needs to be altered, it is accomplished by: impressing, bulging, carving, fluting, and incising. In addition to using His hands, the Potter can use tools, including paddles, anvils and ribs, knives, fluting tools and wires. Further modification can include the attachment of handles, lids, feet, and spouts. If desired, additional decorations, glaze, and precious metals can be applied.
     The clay is then heated and this is when it officially becomes a vessel. A pit fire or bonfire can be used to fire earthenware, but a high-fire kiln is necessay to create stoneware and porcelain. The maximum temperature and duration of firing influences the final characteristics of the vessel. Only the skilled Potter understands the subtleties and nuances that are required to produce the highest qualities.
     We are all earthen vessels, shaped by the Potter, to be used for His purposes. We have different uses and reasons for our existence, but our true value is found from what lies within. 2 Corinthians 4:7 tells us that "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
     Scripture tells us that some vessels are vessels of honor and some are not. We are also told that God has the right to make what He pleases. Romans 9:21 begs the question, "Hath not the  Potter power of the clay to make of the same lump one vessel to honor, and yet another to dishonor?"
The clay definitely does not have the power or authority to tell the Potter what to do.
     There are many references to the types of vessels God creates throughout His Word. Some are honorable and some are not. These are the ones I found: vessels of honor, vessels of dishonor, vessels of mercy, ministering vessels, empty vessels, vessels of wrath, holy vessels, chosen vessels, new vessels, broken vessels, pleasant vessels, golden vessels, silver vessels, brass vessels, restored vessels, full vessels, service vessels, dedicated vessels, small vessels, great vessels, precious vessels, polluted vessels, clean vessels, Refiner's vessels, Potter's vessels, and consecrated vessels.
     I'm not really sure what distinguishes these vessels, but I tend to believe it is their character. While we could never control how we are made or what our purpose is, I do believe that every decision and choice we make can be grounded in the absolute of whether our desire was to please and glorify God or whether it was not. God's goal for each one of our lives is that we be transformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.
     The origin of our word, 'sincere', comes from two Latin words: sine and cere. In ancient times, when one wished to purchase a clay vessel in the marketplace, there was always the possibility that the merchant might try to sell a vessel that had been cracked. An unscrupulous merchant could use wax and seal the inside of the vessel to conceal the fact that it was a worthless piece of pottery, unable to fulfill its purpose.
     In order to test a vessel, one could place it in an oven ( or in the hot sun) for a period of time to see if the wax would melt. The vessel was then filled with water, and, if there was any wax, the vessel would be unable to contain the fluid. A vessel with no cracks would hold water after the trial of heating and this revealed the absence of wax. The Latin word above literally mean 'without wax'.
When these two Latin words are combined, it describes a vessel whose integrity is intact and therefore is able to fulfill its purpose.
     The sad reality of our lives is that we are all "cracked" or "chipped" at one point or another. At these crucial times, it is our integrity that is in question. Will we lean into our trials and tribulations and allow the Potter to make us into another vessel or will we nurse the crack and try to fill it with other substances that assuage our pain? Our choices are imperative because we are to "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean." (Matthew 23:26).
     Each one of us knows the areas of our lives that need further sanctification. We understand the blights that need to be discarded. We either camoflauge, conceal, or choose to offer them up to the only One who can permanently remove every flaw and defect. Timothy tells us that, "If any man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." ( 2 Timothy 2:21).
     God is faithful and diligent and motivated to prepare us to be everything He created us to be. Sometimes, this can be a painful process. For those times that we feel like we are in the kiln (again), we can remember the words from Peter, who gives us a clear directive. "Wherein ye rejoice, though now for a season (if need require) ye are in heaviness, through manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that peisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ." ( 1 Peter 1:6-7).
     When we focus on the resurrection, we see that God is always interested in fixing broken things. Each one of us could probably articulate our current 'Friday' situation, which is our most painful thing. We may feel hard-pressed on all sides and even have pain that is so deep our hope has vanquished. Remember, 'Sunday' is coming..... God will never leave us where we are.
     Regardless of pain, circumstances, trials and difficulties, we still get to choose to live our lives in integrity. The truth is that God is always good and that He will always work our circumstances for our good. Even when it seems impossible. Even when there is no earthly solution. No matter how intense this life gets, we can choose to be vessels of honor that are used to display His glory!

"Everyone of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honor." ( 1 Thes. 4:4).