Day before last I travelled to see my daughter for a surprise birthday party. And she was surprised! She lives on a farm which also doubles as a pottery factory and a tourist attraction. One of her co-workers had organised a “cloud funding” of a new pottery wheel for her (she is, amongst other things, a potter), and all of those who had contributed had been invited to the party. It was all a surprise to her when quite a few unexpected people walked in!
Next day, the wheel was “christened”. She took a 3 kilo (approx. 6 and a half pound) lump of clay and set to work. As we watched, it was transformed into a beautiful vase. Then she took ten smaller pieces of clay and made 10 matching vases for a special order.
She was delighted with the result. The wheel worked smoothly and quickly, unlike her old one, and the other potters were lining up for a go!
As I watched, I realised how much pottery making is like Christianity. First you find a lump of clay. Then you have to prepare it through various stages before you can actually work it. Then you put it on the wheel, centre it, shape it, remove surplus bits, and make it into something beautiful, or utilitarian. Afterwards it is carefully put aside to dry over a period of time. This is vital, because if improperly done, the piece will crack, and be useless. Then it is fired, and/or glazed, sometimes several times, depending on the piece, and/or the type of clay.
God works on us. Sometimes for years, calling us, preparing us. Then He puts us on the wheel and centres us. We are centred in Christ. Watching my daughter showed me how rough this actually can be on us. Then He starts to make us into what He wants us to be. This may involve removing baggage, which can be painful. He makes us into something beautiful, or utilitarian, maybe both.
I am reminded of Romans 9:21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? While I don’t think my daughter would be making anything “dishonourable”, not all of her work is decorative. She makes teapots, cups, saucers, as well as beautiful vases, and other decorative items, which are all intricately decorated (she does that too, incising designs of birds on flowers, dragons, celtic crosses and the like). I think we have to remember that God call some of us be pastors, and some of us to wash the dishes. Some of us to be at the forefront, some of us to work behind the scenes. But we are all called to God’s work, whatever our particular task is, and never to be ashamed of whatever it is He has called us to.
We are put aside to dry. Carefully. Otherwise we will develop faults. By taking our eyes off Jesus, and allowing ourselves to think of other things instead of Him, we develop faults.
And we are allowed to go through the furnace of refinement, just as the clay is fired. Even though this can be very painful, it is essential. It is part of our journey as a Christian. It can take all sorts of forms: bereavement, separation from family, illness, disability; the list is endless. But at the end, He has created something from the clay. Something beautiful, something useful; and made for His glory!
How long along the process are you? Just remember that at the end you have been made into something for God’s glory….by the Master Potter.
Light of Christ 