The Potter and the Clay
By John Earp
Though many seem to approach the Bible to look for a positive and uplifting thought for the day, the Scriptures are filled with warnings from God for individuals, tribes, and nations. When a person or a group of persons turns away from God and His moral law, there will always be consequences, and the conditions brought about as consequences for sin will never change for the better unless and until we repent (change our mind, direction and purpose of life) from self-centeredness (which is what sin is) to God-centeredness (which is what righteousness and true holiness is).
Nevertheless, God will ultimately triumph over all evil in the end, as anyone who’s read the back of the Book can tell you. The United States of America is by no means exempt from the judgment of God for her sins unless she repents. God ultimately is making for Himself a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a chosen generation, which will one day rule and reign with Him over all the Earth. See Revelation 5:10, Daniel 7:18, 7:27, Revelation 20:6, 22:5, 1 Peter 2:9.
Regarding how God works with nations to bring about His eternal purpose, the Prophet Jeremiah saw a vision of the Lord working as a potter works with clay:
Jeremiah 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.
11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’ ”
12 And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.” NKJV
The scriptural call of God for mankind to turn away from sin and turn to Him and follow his word should be shouted from the rooftops. Any nation and any individual who persistently ignores God’s word will in due time be cut off from any hope of redempti0n. Let us repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!