Good Afternoon!
I remember visiting the country Hungary while on our way to evangelistic crusades in Romania. During our travel, we stopped at a village where Anabaptists settled years ago. Their history is strong in Europe. They were involved in the movement we know today as the Reformation. I visited one of the shops in Hungary and bought a clay vessel that had been made by the Anabaptists. A beautiful vase that denotes the history of their movement while in Hungary.
In Jeremiah chapter 18 he is told by God to go to the potter's house and watch the potter form, shape and make a vessel made from wet clay. As he watched he noticed that the vessel had become marred. The potter had to begin again to reshape the vessel.
In a revelation, Jeremiah thought about his country. What had happened with the clay gave Jeremiah hope for his nation, which had become marred in the hand of God, could be reshaped and made a clean vessel again. It was an example of what God, as the Potter, will do when we become marred and are willing to repent and turn from our disobedience and sin against God. This is exactly what could have been the experience of Israel is they would turn from their sin and turn back to God. They had a choice.
It's true. They did make their choice. They could either accept God's plan or reject it. Chapter 18:12 reveals their choice.
"...It's hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans,
and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart."
NOTE: We also choose to accept God's plan or reject it. Right here...in this very book...Jeremiah...it is written:
"I know the plans I have for you"--this is the Lord's declaration--
"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope... 29:11
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NOTE:
We do make our choices, BUT, we DO NOT choose to accept or reject the consequences of our choices!!!
People choose to sin but do NOT choose the wages for his/her sin!!!
Chapter 18 shows the patience of God.
Then comes chapter 19. Jeremiah is told by God to go to the shop and purchase a potter's flask. A vessel that is already shaped by the potter and hardened into a beautiful vessel. Read what he is told to do.
"Take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests and go out to the Valley of Hinnom...
Proclaim these words I speak to you. Say:
"Hear the words of the Lord...I am going to bring such disaster on this place that
everyone who hears about it will shudder because you have abandoned Me..." 19:1-4
Then Jeremiah took the vessel that he had purchased and threw it so it shattered before the people then God said,
"I will shatter these people and this city, like one, shatters a potter's jar that can never be mended!" 19:11
Here's the story. There is time for you to come away from your sin. God has your life in His hand. He is your Potter. As long as you are soft...NOT hard-hearted...God can remake you into something beautiful. Through your repentance, He will reshape you into something pleasing to Him.
...BUT...If your heart has hardened...If you refuse to give God your life and your future...He will shatter your life like a hardened vase!
I've been to the Valley of Hinnom...today called the Valley of Ben-Hinnom. It is a burial for poor people. Jews will not be buried there. It was a place where they sacrificed their children with open fires to satisfy the gods that they were worshipping. It was a place used to aborting children in the wombs of mothers to satisfy their pagan gods. Today, it is a garbage dump. It is a less than desirable place to visit.
I am praying that my country does not go there. They are moving in a direction that is not pleasing God. The standard that I look at is the unborn children that our leaders have approved to use our tax money for national and international abortions. This is breaking the heart of God who is the giver of life. Look at your children. God gave them to you. I pray God will turn our nation back toward Him and we will have leaders who will repent and not become hardened.
Pray with me to that end!
May God Bless You!
Don Betts
DBEA/campus320
DBEAWINNING.COM
TO GOD BE ALL GLORY!