Let us step back in time (for a moment) and consider a story that has come to be the foundation for many sermons preached perhaps for centuries by religious leaders of many different faiths and persuasions. The story begins here: "The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there will I cause thee to hear my words. Speaking from a practical point of view, whatever God had intended to say to the prophet, he could have spoken to him the time he told him to go down to the potter’s house.

But it seems that in this incident, God intended to deliver a "visible message" to Jeremiah. In this case, the prophet will lean both by what he sees and what he hears. "Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 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. HERE IS THE BIG TAKE-AWAY! Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord? Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18: 1-6.

It is worthwhile and prudent for us to embrace the principles that form the very core of this lesson. For this study, we are going to insert these principles into the making of the sons of God. For many of us, we have now come into the full understanding that our sonship is a work in progress, we serve ourselves well to bear in mind the ongoing process first was first exhibited down at the potter’s house. For instance: The potter was a skillful technician and well versed in his trade. But the vessel being shaped and fashioned was marred in the potter’s hand.

A few books and sermons have dealt with the potter’s house. In this study, we will take an in-depth look at the importance of the potter’s house, and how it figures in the lives and even the personality of every person alive and have ever lived. This is of paramount importance, because we live in a "world community" and even in a single family of a few individuals, the work done at the potter’s house are visible though unnoticed for the most part. The potter’s house is the "manufacturing plant;" it is where all processing is done by the Potter as he designs and set in motion all the intricate patterns of his creation. Families are thrown into conflicts; and even nations are thrown into wars because of the failure to identify what the Potter has done by his own choices and purposes within himself.

Paul puts it this way: "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted (not merely acceptable—but already accepted) in the beloved." Ephesians 1:4-6. I am intrigued and even flabbergasted by the things God does, simply because he wants to. I often listen with a little chuckle when I hear folks telling the church how they sought and found Jesus. But when we take a closer look at our salvation (as we will do in this study) we see something totally different from what our first beliefs have been.

The most compelling truth in this study, is that the Potter made each vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jeremiah 18: 4. The clay is simply a lump of hardened dirt. It is given no power to choose or to determine its own future. Paul puts it this way: "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? Romans 9: 20, 21. The story of the potter’s house should not be taken as an imaginary tale that can be applied to other stories of long ago. If we begin to see the truths gleaned from this picture as "on-going" and vital in any age, we will unearth truths that are profound and faith-building in any age in which we live.

We are faced with two separate truths that run concurrently down through the corridor of time. Looking more closely at the words of the Apostle Paul, we soon are forced to see the on-going process as it pertains to the potter’s house. As we saw above, two distinct products are designed (manufactured) at the potter’s house. One batch is designed for destruction. For what specific purpose? For the God to shew forth his wrath: and the other, for Him to make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore (before time began) prepared unto glory." Romans 9: 22, 23. This is the big process by which the peoples of the world are made.

As long as people continue to be born, the two divisions are in effect. Some are still being born, fitted for destruction (vessels unto dishonor) and people unto honor. We could certainly embark upon heated debates as to the pros and the cons of the issue. No matter what our personal feelings are; and no matter how we prefer to slant the issue, the truth remains with the potter, that he calls the shots: he decides all by himself what the function of the finished product. John tells us that Christ is the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. So then, even before birth the Creator decides who will be placed into the rank of those he designed to be "unto dishonor" and those who will be among those unto honor. In Romans 9, Paul was very forceful in saying that the vessel has no voice and its opinion does not count in the design of his personality and purpose upon the earth. We are told that God created ALL THINGS (and all peoples) for himself. 2^nd Corinthians 5: 18.

It is of paramount importance for us to understand that the prophet’s trip down to the potter’s house, was not meant to be a "one-time" lesson in the making of us according to the will of the potter. As we read: "He made each vessel as it pleased him." At the end of the finished line: when we all step off the assembly line, who has what to boast about? Or who has the right and the power to critique the other person? I see all people just right—no matter what role they play. I see someone much greater than the player in any of our stories. We are told, "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10: 23. Also, that which you won’t hear often or at all at your local "church". "The Lord hath made ALL THINGS FOR HIMSELF: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." Proverbs 16: 4. Listen to the Potter’s own words: "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together." Isaiah 48: 13.

THE NATURE and PURPOSE OF THE POTTER’S HOUSE. The intent of this study is to highlight the ultimate purpose of our salvation, and the refining of the sons of God. Let us walk away from looking at things in theological terms and see the potter’s house for what it is. It is like a factory where products made of clay are made. The rough material is harvested and brought to the potter’s house for processing. The hard clay is moistened and softened to a point where it is supple and easy to shape in the hands of the potter. One vessel was marred in the hands of the potter, making it difficult or impossible to go through the process. Small pebbles and hard patches in the clay renders it "unusable". But in our lesson, all was not lost: the potter simply repeated the process and formed the clay into another vessel of his own choosing.

It is said that a place containing water to store and soften the clay was a part of the process. After the product is made to satisfaction upon the wheel, the final act is to burn the product with fire. This hardens it and gives it its beautiful shine. So down by the potter’s house was not a place for tourists to walk by and do some window shopping. There was no glamor and captivating beauty here. It was merely a factory where vessels of clay were manufactured. But God placed himself in the seat of the potter, and from henceforth, every vessel comes out as the finished product from the hands of the potter: as a vessel made unto honor, or a vessel made unto dishonor. We are told that "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on (IN) his name." John 1:12. The process begins when we receive him, and we are gradually made into sons of God. If the raw clay materials could feel pain, there would be signs of much suffering down at the potter’s house Based upon the same principle of "shaping—molding" us into sons of God, we suffer pain. As if to alert us of the sufferings that are integral part of the process, we are given examples in scripture of what we can—and should expect.

The template or blue-print of our walk into true sonship is based upon this truth. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory (to share his glory) to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Hebrews 2: 10. It is said of Christ being the Son of God: "Though he were a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that believe him." Heb.5: 8, 9. The eternal aspect of following Christ as he himself alluded to, had nothing to do with being prepared on earth for a home in heaven. In fact, the call was to "come follow me and die."

He said: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Luke 14: 27. As we saw earlier: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Hebrews 2:10. This aspect of Christ’s suffering was so pronounced and vivid to an ancient prophet that he wrote: "He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53: 2-5.

Isaiah spoke those words some 712 years before Christ was born; but as Jesus himself said, God will not leave himself without a witness; so all those hundreds of years before the event actually took place, God had already placed a witness on the scene. It underscores how important and world changing the sufferings of Christ would be. The main theme and object of the gospel of Jesus Christ IS THE CROSS. In fact, we can intelligently and correctly divide time by classifying all time before the cross upon Calvary’s hill as "the former days" and time after the resurrection of Christ as "the latter days." But the mention and symbol of the cross throughout scripture points to death. The walk with Christ, bearing our cross, ends as Paul wrote: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: (or instead of me). Galatians 2: 20.

All of this begins down at the potter’s house—a factory where vessels of clay are molded and shaped into vessels based upon the potter’s own choosing. Paul’s assertion that he was crucified WITH CHRIST, was not unique to the apostle alone. He was not granted a special insight that would work for him, while excluding everyone else. The crucial truth that he discovered by faith, remains vibrant and effective for every person whose faith can aspire to that realm of total belief that he or she was included in the crucifixion of Christ whose vicarious death was on behalf of every person alive.

What happens when a son of God is received into that exclusive family? As many as received him, to them gave he power TO BECOME the sons of God. John 1:12. However, we need to know how this truth works; because if the clay had feelings like us, there would be much groanings, sighing, and grievous supplications down at the potter’s house. This glaring and profound truth that encapsulates the fundamentals of what the potter’s house is all about, can be found in the following scripture. It is like the prominent entrance into God’s authentic family of redeemed loved ones. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and SCOURGETH every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof ALL ARE PARTAKERS, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hebrews 12: 6-7. Scourging is not pleasant: it is not a pleasant act even to watch as a spectator, let alone being scourged.

In the movies, depicting life on a pirate ship, and even in the case of Jesus Christ, scourging is a vile and painful act. Although we are told that God scourges every son he receives, the process is personal and does not follow for a text book written by a "Board of Church Elders." God controls the process, sets and determines all of the intricate dynamics from one person to the next. We are told: "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 with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1^st Corinthians 10: 13.These two major factors cannot be circumvented because the Creator has so predestinated them to be integral parts of his redemption plan.

Peter made a substantial contribution to the subject we are currently studying. He wrote: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is TO TRY

You, as though some strange thing happened to you." 1^st Peter 4: 12. The fiery trial is not a rear and uncommon thing. It happens all the time; and it is not designed to destroy you, but simply to TRY YOU. We are told that our God is a consuming fire. But the truth is that when there is no fuel, the fire goes out. As long as the fire burns, it suggests that there is fuel that feeds it. Looking back at what we shared earlier, we see that the captain of our salvation, in bringing many sons unto glory was made perfect through suffering. (Heb. 2:10) That is the trade mark under which the sons of God exist, serve, and are perfected. (If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.) Even in the natural world, as we watch the potter working his wheel with a new creation, rest assured that he/she knows exactly what the finished product is going to be. God, as the Master Potter, from before the worlds were formed, created to himself a master plan for the ages that includes us all. The reason for our salvation is clearly defined in scripture, so that there is no room for ignorance or misunderstanding. To initiate his plan and to provide the pattern for his work, he sent Jesus Christ as the captain of our salvation; who came to us through suffering.