Truth Will Triumph

“Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.” –Proverbs 16:13. (ESV).

We are in a period of time before our elections in November when the airways are filled with voices of persons running for public office.  The messages we hear often confuse us by the different viewpoints held by opposing candidates.  Where is truth, we wonder, and how can we know whom to believe?  From the welter of words can we decipher a modicum of dependable clarity that comes close to truth, to the reality of what can be understood and accepted?  I found some principles in Proverbs and elsewhere that should help us have some standards by which to weigh the campaign promises of those whom it is our duty to put into offices of our land as leaders.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:2:  “All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit” (ESV). The Message Bible by Eugene H. Peterson (NavPress, 2005) renders the verse thus:  “Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.” This verse makes a strong case for us to be discerning, to put what we hear from candidates against the test of God’s standards as we find them in the Bible.  Recent events have cast a cloud over some of the happenings leading up to the 2012 election.  I write this—not to “take sides” politically, but to urge that each person should be conscience-led to make his/her own decisions.  This has come through truthful reports of the recent Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte, NC, and if you were watching you saw proceedings for yourself.  The leaders had made the choice to leave mention of God and Jerusalem out of their platform.  So much criticism came that when mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa was presiding, a motion was made on the floor to include the words in the platform.  A two-thirds majority was needed to carry the proposal.  He called for an “aye” voice vote, and many did voice their approval.  Then he asked for all opposed to say “no.”  Rev. Franklin Graham stated:  “I watched in horror and absolute disbelief at the deafening roar as delegates rejected including any mention of God’s name.” (from “Good News” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association newsletter, September 21, 2012, p. 1).  Mr. Villaraigosa called for two more votes, and each time the opposition was stronger to having God’s name excluded.  The presiding officer wielded his gavel and declared the vote approved.  How does this fit with Proverbs 12:2?  “All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”  Jeremiah the prophet constantly warned Israel of the nation’s downfall and captivity by Babylon.  The reason Jeremiah gave repeatedly was “My people have forgotten Me, days without number” (Jer. 2:32b); “they have forgotten the Lord their God” (Jer. 3:21b); “You have forgotten Me and trusted in lies” (Jer. 13:25b); “my people have forgotten Me; they make offerings to false god” (Jer. 18:15a).  “Political correctness” has superceded “In God we trust.”  God help us!

Prayer.  Lord, we earnestly pray that our nation will listen and discern the truth amidst the welter of false promises and unsubstantiated claims.  I pray that we will not be led astray by those who claim to present the truth but it is only right in their eyes, not according to God’s standard.  Lord, we claim your promise in Proverbs 16:20:  “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”  Let it not be too late for America to turn back to You, Lord.  Give us another opportunity to follow Your pathways for our nation.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Clay in the Potter’s Hands

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:  ‘Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel.  And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he worked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.  Then the word of the Lord came to me, ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done?’ declares the Lord.  ‘Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.  If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down, and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it…Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you.  Return, everyone  from  his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’”-Jeremiah 18:1-11 (ESV).

God commands Jeremiah to observe another symbolic act.  He is to go to the potter’s place of work and there watch him as he takes clay and forms it into a vessel.  Even in ancient times, we are told, potters had wheels similar to the ones handcraft potters still use today.  The potter’s wheel consisted of two flat, circular stones which were mounted on a rod.  As the potter turned the stones around with the rod, he placed mud and water on them, thus forming a vessel.  If the vessel did not form properly, or if the potter saw a flaw in it, he began all over again, using the same materials, but seeking better results from his efforts.  Near Helen, Georgia in the mountains is the Potter’s Wheel, a place where clay vessels are still formed and fired in a kiln.  Grover and I used to go by sometimes just to watch the craftsman work and to marvel at how deftly his trained hands shaped the beautiful objects of usefulness and art in his gift shop.  In Georgia, several names are noted in pottery-making.  One from years ago is Meadors Pottery.  If you have in your possession one of their fine pottery creations, you have a treasure.

Jeremiah’s object lesson is for people and for a nation.  Each individual is clay in the Lord’s hands to be formed into a useful and worthwhile person. Likewise, a nation under God is like clay in the potter’s hand, useful and purposeful when formed and without flaws that weaken.  In each instance, the potter (God) who formed us, is willing for us to start over.  It was Alexander Whyte, the noted Scottish preacher who said, “The victorious Christian life has a series of new beginnings.”  Closely aligned with Rev. Whyte’s statement is this comment by J. Wilbur Chapman (in Revival Sermons [New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1911]  p. 23): “The clay is not attractive in itself, but when the hands of the potter touch it, and the thought of the potter is brought to bear upon it, and the plan of the potter is worked out in it and through it, then there is a real transformation.”

The words of the hymn written by Adelaide A. Pollard inspire me:

            “Have Thine own way, Lord!  Have Thine own way!

            Thou art the potter, I am the clay!

            Mold me and make me After Thy will,

            While I am waiting, Yielded and still.”

God had Jeremiah sound this plea:  “Return everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds” (Jer. 18:11).  May we think on these words and act accordingly.

“Treasure in Earthen Vessels”

“For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” -2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (KJV)

“This treasure in earthen vessels” is translated in later versions as “treasures in jars of clay.” Whichever way it is stated, this reference means each of us who has given his/her life to Him to shape, to mold, to be used in His service. We are His treasure in the very body we dwell in on this earth.

It is awesome to think that God, the Creator Himself, who gave His word and light came forth from darkness, who spoke and the world came into being, who commanded and life sprang forth--He is the same God who gives us revelation of His glory through the Lord Jesus Christ.

And then, still holding us in awesome wonder, we are His “treasure in earthen vessels.” Take a look at yourself. The human body is a remarkable living entity, with each part working in harmony to give life, health and purpose to our individual existence on earth. Unless we are beset by some illness or calamity, we usually live out a life span of threescore years, or in many instances, threescore plus ten and even more. But this treasure of life we hold in our perishable body (earthen vessel, jar of clay) has a purpose. Paul reminds us what it is: “to show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (II Cor 4:7b, NIV). He made “His light shine in our hearts” (II Cor. 4:6). And with that light comes “the knowledge of the glory of God.” And how do we know this knowledge goes beyond the Law, first given to Moses for the Israelites, and then, the fuller revelation coming to us by His grace? We behold it in the life of Jesus Christ, as Paul stated it: “in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Scholars seem to agree that for Paul the Apostle, his “treasure in earthen vessels” was the work of ministry, of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. He and his team members did just that, whether they were in prison, on missionary journeys preaching the word, or with pen and scroll writing epistles to the churches (which have been kept and canonized as parts of our Bible). But what is our “treasure” in our own “earthly vessel”? It is our yielding to God, being “clay in the Potter’s hands,” (Jeremiah 18:6), allowing Him to use the talents and abilities that are unique to each of us for His glory and for the benefit of others. And while we are thus giving, the “earthen vessel” itself realizes a true purpose and becomes more beautiful in the hands of the Potter.

Who among us does not desire this worthy goal?