FOURTH: Molding the Pottery
Shaping the clay.
Once the potter has gotten the lumps and bubbles out, he is ready to start molding and shaping his clay into the form which he desires.
But there's still a problem: The clay is not supple — and consequently cannot be properly molded. The solution is basic: The potter must add the right amount of WATER (sometimes oil is used instead of water) to make the clay more plastic.
Once God has beaten our hardness of heart out of us, and knocked (some of) our vanity out of us, then we must receive the "living waters" — God's molded by God's Law.
No one can truly obey God — can truly yield to Him — unless and until he has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. But when anybody really thirsts for God's Spirit, He will give it to him (see Isa. 55:1).
Jesus said: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly [or innermost being] shall flow rivers of living WATER. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given . . .)" (John 7:37-39).
Just as the potter must add sufficient water to the clay to make it completely pliable and malleable, so must the Master Potter add the gift of the "living waters" — the gift of His priceless Holy Spirit — before we can truly become pliable and YIELDED in His hands!
Without the addition of water to the clay, it will not be malleable enough to be continually molded in the hands of the potter. Likewise, without the addition of the spiritual waters of God's Holy Spirit to our minds, we could never be yielded enough to be continually shaped in the hands of our Creator; the Master Potter.
The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Rome: "YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD" (Rom. 6:13). We are to yield ourselves completely to God as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1).
FIFTH: Plunged into the Fire
Firing the clay.
After the potter has molded his vessel and has let it dry out thoroughly, he then puts his unbaked piece of pottery into a fiery furnace (or kiln) where it must be heated (very slowly at first so it won't explode) to a very high temperature before it will become sufficiently baked to attain its maximum hardness.
If it is fired at too high a temperature, it will warp. On the other hand, if it is fired at too low a temperature, the pottery will be "soft" — and will not obtain its maximum "maturity," density and hardness. The master potter has ways of testing to find out the proper "firing range" (the proper temperature) at which a particular type of clay should be fired.
There is an amazingly close parallel here between the human potter and the Master Potter. When God allows us to be put through trials (remember, God tempts no man — Jas. 1:13), He has to know just how high the "heat" should be "turned on."
If God doesn't allow us to be subjected to enough trials and tests, we get spiritually flabby and never develop the hard, firm character which is absolutely required for Sonship in God's Family.
On the other hand, if He were to let us be tried by such a big temptation that we couldn't cope with it — then it would destroy us beyond redemption.
So God, as the all-wise Master Potter, knows the precise degree to which each true child of His can be subjected — and He watches over us very carefully to make sure that the trials and tests we receive are neither too light (Heb. 12:6-11) nor too severe (I Cor. 10:13).
just as it is most essential that a clay vessel be put through the fiery test of a furnace, so it is equally necessary that a Christian have his share of temptations, trials and tests. Without these we would never develop much strength of character. But God has solemnly promised not to let our trials and temptations over‑power us — if we continue to really rely upon Him in faithful obedience.
Peter understood and wrote about the severe temptations and trials which would befall God's people: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:6, 7).
James, the brother of Christ, writing to the "twelve tribes" of Israel, understood the need for Christians to be prepared to be plunged into the fiery kiln to become perfected — if God so willed. Notice his admonition: "My brethren, count it all JOY when ye fall into divers TEMPTATIONS [Or trials]; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:2, 3). James explains that temptations are actually a blessing — because when they are resisted, eternal character is built: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the CROWN OF LIFE, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (verse 12).
A wise master potter will not permit his furnace or kiln to become too hot when firing his pieces of pottery, for he knows this would ruin them beyond repair. He, therefore, carefully watches and controls the fire to make sure that just the right temperature is maintained at all times. He would not think of going away and leaving his pottery in the fire.
So it is with God. He carefully watches over every believer, over every true Christian, to make certain that he isn't tempted beyond his capacity — making sure his "fiery trial" doesn't become too much for him to bear.
God has faithfully promised: "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE" (Heb. 13:5).
Notice how this is explained by Paul: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: But GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13).
SIXTH: Finishing Touches
Decorating the clay.
After the clay has been baked in a furnace to give it its permanent shape, strength and hardness, it is removed from the kiln and DECORATED — after which it is GLAZED OVER.
Then what happens?
Back into the fire — back into the furnace it goes so that the decorative work and the glazing can be baked onto the surface of the vessel. This constitutes the second firing.
What should we learn from this DECORATING, GLAZING and SECOND FIRING?
God often puts finishing touches into our character — polishing different aspects of His perfect character within us through allowing additional fiery trials of various types. It is, remember, through trials and temptations that the most beautiful facets of our character are developed!
Now, even after a piece of pottery has been fired twice, it often has further stunning decorations applied — perhaps fine, pure gold or silver metals. Then after these exquisite finishing touches are added to the nearly finished vessel, it must go back into the furnace!
So, back into the fire this beautifully decorated piece of pottery goes — for the third and (in most instances) final firing.
So it is with God and His children. We sometimes think we have "had enough," that we've gone through enough fiery trials; but God, in His infinite wisdom, usually feels otherwise.
He may realize that still more beautiful Godlike facets of character need to be added — if we are to have the exquisite, indescribably stunning character that is made in the image of the perfect, holy, and glorious God — out great Master Potter!
SEVENTH: At Last — A Work of Art
Judging the pottery.
The potter is now ready to judge his work. The piece of pottery has withstood three or more firings. The master potter can now survey his work. And he will judge it very critically.
Has it stood up to the test? Has it come through all of the firings a hard, strong, beautiful creation — something the potter can truly be proud of? Or, has it cracked, exploded, sagged, drooped, flaked or become warped somewhere along the line?
Likewise, at the end of our life, our Master Potter will judge us extremely critically to see how we have come through all our trials — and He will reward us accordingly.
Rejoice — Especially in Your Trials!
So take courage!
If God has permitted you to be sorely tried — perhaps repeatedly — then that's the surest sign that your Creator knows you've got it in you to "endure unto the end." And that's also the surest sign that the Ruler of the entire universe is working out some higher purpose in your life.
The Scriptures reveal that God sorely tested and tried Abraham (Gen. 22:1-19), David (Psalm 51), Daniel (Dan. 6), Paul (II Cor. 11:23-28). And they will all have very high positions in the Kingdom of God.
And Jesus Christ, our Savior, will have the greatest reward and position of all — for He was tempted more sorely than any man — yet without sin! (Heb. 4:15; Matt. 26:38 through 27:50)
Christ has solemnly promised that those who hold steadfast till the very end — those who endure all their fiery trials — will definitely make it! "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matt. 24:13).
Think of that! When a potter finishes his work, he only has a beautiful piece of pottery, But when the Master Potter finishes His work with you, He will have a Son of God!
The great Master Potter has reassuringly promised that those who endure their fiery trails will inherit EVERYTHING!
He that overcometh [sins, trials, tests, temptations] SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son" (Rev. 21:7). What a fantastic future to look forward to!