The Potter's Wheel
Jeremiah Chapter 18 vs. 1 reads. "The Word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, vs. 2 Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. vs. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold he wrought a work on the wheels. vs. 4 and the vessel that he made of clay was marred (spoiled) in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
Christians are placed on the potter's wheel after the potter works out the stones from the clay. The potter here is God who takes our lives and in his hands and begins to mold and shape us into a vessel of his usefulness. If there are stones are small pebbles in the clay the potter must work to remove these or the vessel will never be of any use. The stones and the pebbles are sin in our lives. In verse 4 we see the potter destroying his work to start again. Proverbs 28:14 "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief (trouble)." It is when stumble and follow our own path, which leads away from the path of God that we fall into sin and calamity. Will God allow a man to fall into mischief? Yes he will! 1 Timothy 1:20 "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. You might think I am going way out here with this but listen....1 Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." We might convince ourselves that we are sin free but when we are placed upon the potter's wheel our sin will come to the surface. Our sin will find us out. Why would God allow a Christian to fall into mischief? Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (disciplines), and scourgeth (punishes) every son whom he receiveth Accepts as his sons)." When the Apostle Peter denied Christ three times (John 18:27) he fell off the wheel. His display in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested demonstrated that he wasn't ready to be placed on the potter's wheel. When he drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus established that more work had to be done in his life (John 18:10). He acted upon his carnal instincts and his flesh was still in control. But God had put him on the wheel, God had a plan., God knew Peter wasn't ready for the wheel. Peter however thought he was prepared for the immediate events that was to come. He told Jesus even if everyone else denies you and leaves you I will die for you (John 13:37). It was necessary for Peter as the clay vessel to be broken in order for the potter to place him upon the wheel once more and begin a new work in him. (Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is nigh (close, near) unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit (crushed, oppressed)". Any useful vessel of clay must be without stones and pebbles or it will be destroyed by the potter and molded a second time. It is better to fall off the wheel and be reshaped rather than unformed and pulverized to powder. Luke 20:18 "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone (Jesus) shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." When was Peter restored? When was he placed back on the potter's wheel? I do not believe it came in Luke 22:62 "And Peter went out, and wept bitterly" Though the scripture does say that godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, I believe this was too soon after his sin. Peter had to see the Lord broken, he had to see the crucifixion in order for him to fall upon the stone which the builders rejected. When Jesus died it completely broke the disciples for Jesus was all they had. They had given up everything to follow him now that which they had clung to was now gone. I believe Peter was placed back on the wheel in Mark 16:7. A messenger of God is speaking to Mary at the tomb after Jesus' resurrection, "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee". Peter may not have known he had been a second time placed on the wheel, but the Lord was about to begin a mighty ministry through Peter.
Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
Why would God destroy that which he made, that which he loved, the creation of his own hands? Because God cannot work with sin in a persons life. Sure God can remove that sin if we ask but if we allow the sin to remain in us it will prohibit and hinder God's will. In order for him to make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory, sometimes that vessel must be broken, reworked and placed a second time upon the wheel. Some of you who have read this have fallen off the wheel. You feel broken, and maybe you feel as though God doesn't listen to your prayers. But I assure you that if you are going through the chastisement of the Lord all you have to do is listen to the voice of the God who is directing you to repent of the sin in your life. God will not forsake you, there is hope in Christ Jesus. Out of love, God brings correction. Sometimes it is harsh, but it is often necessary because we have wandered so far from his grace, it takes a shaking up of the spirit to heal the backsliding. I would encourage you if you know you have fallen off the wheel, to return to the Lord and allow him to mold and shape you into a vessel, which he can use. Remember God is our Father, Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
The wheel is the Holy Spirit in our lives which helps us to build and maintain our relationship with the Father. He brings needed repairs to us, he is our helper and our comforter and the more we depend on him, the better vessel we become in the hands of the potter.
In Christ Jesus,
Dale Thompson