This beautiful ceramic plate (with an image of Jesus on it) bears no resemblance to the clay it once was. But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8).
I grew up in central Georgia in what we call “kaolin country”. Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain. Kaolin comes out of the ground as chalky looking clay. It is then separated into its various mixed elements, refined, and made into many things. I used to work in a factory that produced porcelain electric insulators. The factory produced insulators of different sizes and colors, and they were quite appealing in appearance. Some of us even sculpted and molded the discarded pieces of clay, placed the glaze on them, and placed them in the kiln to go through the intense heat and fire to produce beautiful royal blue ceramic plates and cups.
I was contemplating today how the analogies of the processing of clay into beautiful artifacts and the process of growth in our Christian lives, otherwise known as santification have much in common:
1) The Master Potter must first take the clay out of its natural environmnent, separate the undesireable elements from it, and set it aside to be formed. The clay may not be very happy about this, since it has no idea where it is going or what the Potter intends (other than the fact that it is going to become something wonderful).
2) The Master Potter must form and reform the clay carefully. It takes time, but the Master Potter is diligent and careful because He knows exactly what He wants the clay to be like. The clay is very uncomfortable at this point. It is somewhat painful to be formed into something which you don’t even begin to resemble. The clay is in a hurry to get the process over with! However, the Potter is methodical and will not be rushed, since quality is very important to Him.
3) Once formed into an image of the beautiful end product, the Potter then places the glaze on the clay and places it in the extreme heat and fire to refine it and bring it into its beauty in fullness. Whew, talk about being uncomfortable to be clay at this point!
4) Now, the Potter, removes the clay from the fire and heat. The clay has now turned into a beautiful piece of work. It is now time to take the beautiful, glorified item home to be with Him. The clay is feeling pretty good about the process now.
The lessons from the clay process are self evident and there are numerous references throughout the Old and New Testament using similar analogies. We, as Christians, are indeed the clay that God will form into the likeness of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. It is going to take time, maybe even a lifetime, but along the way, we know that the Master Potter knows exactly what He wants us to become and what we will be like in the end. Then at the end of the process He will lovingly take us home to be His treasure, and the clay will enjoy the company of the Master Potter forever.
An old beloved hymn, written in 1907 by Adelaide A. Pollard, says it this way:
Have Thine own way, Lord. Have Thine own way.
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have a blessed day,
George
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