And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. –– Jeremiah 18:4
As we continue our lessons from the potter’s house, we now find Jeremiah describing what he saw the potter doing. He describes that the potter was specifically making a vessel, as a potter would do, but that it was made of clay. The concept of clay is very important to this story.
There are various components that makeup potter’s clay. Depending on the type of vessel being made, the components can be different. In their very basic form, they all have one common component, the actual substance of clay. If you research clay, a potter will tell you that the source of the clay will help you determine how well the clay will form.
For example, if the clay is sourced very close to its origination point, it’s extremely pure. The lack of impurities will help the clay as the potter molds and shapes it. But the powdery clay has a tendency to be blown around or washed into other areas away from its original point of origin.
Even though the clay may be imperfect, it can still be used. Even though it has been blown around, washed around, or had many other things happen to it, there are options for it to be used for the potter’s purpose. But only the potter knows how that clay fits into their plan and how they can use the clay.
Our third lesson from the potter’s house is that there are a lot of similarities between our lives and the clay. Every person, no matter who they are, is similar at the very basic core. We are all born sinners. All of us are flesh and bones. We all have a soul in need of salvation.
But we, just like the clay, have a tendency to find ourselves blown around and washed around by the things of this world. You see, the closer we stay to the Savior, our origination point, the purer our lives will be. But as we are blown around and washed around in this world, we tend to pick up impurities.
That is not to say we are not usable by God. Just like the potter, God knows exactly where He can use us and how we fit in His plan. The key is putting ourselves in the hands of God to allow Him to work with us as He sees fit. The potter knows the best way to mold and shape the clay. He knows exactly what it will take to get the clay to the shape that He needs.
Sometimes, the clay may need a bit more pressure. Sometimes, it may need more water. The potter knows what the clay needs to be used. We must put ourselves in the hands of God and let Him have control of our lives. We must let Him mold and shape us to be used by Him for His purpose. But most importantly, we should strive to live our lives as close to Him as possible, to keep out the impurities we may pick up in this world. What an awesome lesson that is found here in the potter’s house.
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