[1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: [2] “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” [3] So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. [4] And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. [5] Then the word of the Lord came to me: [6] “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” ~ Jeremiah 18:1-6
I was just sitting here trying to fix a console I had bought a few months ago that wasn’t working. I had taken it apart. Cleaned it up. Bought a replacement part for it. Still nothing. And so I decided to give it another go tonight and when I tested it, it flashed on the screen and then the screen went black and I got really excited. It wasn’t fixed, but it was closer than it was before.
And as that excitement became more and more noticeable to me, it hit me, this is how God feels about us. See, I didn’t make that system. It’s not even one I had as a child. It’s not even a system I had growing up, but I can’t help but try to fix it. We aren’t just some random system God bought from someone who didn’t want us anymore and now He’s trying to see if He can fix us up and sell us to make a profit.
No, God created us. He formed us in our mother’s womb. He knitted us together. He knows the number of each hair on our head. And when we fail. When we run from Him and make ourselves dirty and it seems unfixable. It seems like we’re too far gone, God is still chasing us down. He leaves the 99 for the 1. He looks for His sheep, and when He finds us, He rejoices. I felt such excitement and joy when I saw that screen flash because I knew I was on the right track. I knew it was getting close. I can only imagine how much joy the LORD feels when we come home to Him. When we fall at His feet and say, here I am LORD, have me. Use me. I am Yours.
Yes, we make mistakes. Yes, we are just dust. But to God, we are clay worth saving. To God, we are His people, and He loves us. Just as a father will always love his wayward child, so does our Heavenly Father always love us. He wants us to come home to Him, and when we do, He reshapes us. He renews us. He forgets our sin, our transgressions, for His own sake. He remembers not our past, but instead, He focuses on now and tomorrow. So, let us do the same.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let The Potter Reshape His Clay.