"I don't like my life this way, I'd have prefered it has the likes of the other lady or the other guy. It looks more appealing to me".
"If only my life was like that of Sandra, or more like Samuel, or my family like the Johnson's, my life would be smoother than it is."
"Everything seems to work well for her/him. She's got everything. He has a perfect life; the connections, the looks, the money, the luxurious life, etc."
Many minds are forced to think in this pattern because they percieve a life that looks better (in quote) than theirs. They feel the grass is greener on the other side but fail to realize that the grass will continue to look green until they get close to it.
Well, that's by the way.
My concern now is, if non–christians (the heathens) gets trapped in their own thoughts and high expectations they've set for themselves using the lives and successes of others as yardstick to measure up their lives, we as christians (God's children) should never make such mistake.
Why?
Because we are supposed to have an understanding of who we are (as children of God and citizens of His kingdom), Who we serve (our Source; Jesus Christ) and what He has spoken about us through His Word.
The moment we let the world's system or a person's life be the measurement scale for measuring what God is doing with us, then we've substituted wisdom for foolishness.
Back to the clay and the plastic!
The clay is a typology of how we are meant to be in the hands of the potter (our Father). Just like the clay, we're to be submissive (not hardened like rocks) to His will, and pliable in His hands so He can mould us into His desired pottery.
Unlike the plastic. The plastic is that stiff-headed fellow who refuses to submit to God's will and almost impossible to remould with bare hands except it is melted. This means that it has to pass through heat. The plastic signifies that fellow who is hardened and must be chastised and dealt with by God before he/she forms into the desired shape of the Creator.
Such person cannot be regarded as clay because he/she gives the potter (God) difficulties in moulding.
In Jeremiah 18:1-6, God Himself gave Jeremiah an illustration of how the God–christian relationship should be.
See this:
3] "Arise, go down to the potter's house and behold he wrought a WORK on the wheels."
Notice the word "wrought a WORK". What does it tell you? The clay is considered a WORK. Something that needs conscious efforts to improve into something better.
Dear christian, you are a work; a work in progress. And God is ensuring that every curve is perfect, the lid fits excellently and the outcome of the artifact (of your life and destiny) turns out to be what everyone would admire and love. You just have to be patient with God and yourself.
On to the next verse...
4] "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"
This verse confirms the fact that the potter has the right to reform and remould the clay to whatever he wishes. Many Christians have been initially marred and battered probably from their past lives and experiences.
The past wrong decisions they made or sins committed or pains and traumas may have destroyed their destinies, character, personality, relationships, career, sense of purpose, etc. But only the clay (child of God) that trust Jesus enough to create a much better design with his/her destiny can enjoy a much glorious life.
5] "Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6] "O house of Israel, cannot i do with you as this potter? Says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."
Verses 5 and 6 clearly states that God has every right to do with us as His children what the potter does to the clay. And He's expecting us to yield to Him not telling Him how we want to be formed.
"Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" (Romans 9:21).
Being hard before the Lord is like rebellion. It is choosing to be what you want irrespective of what your Creator (God) desires.
I want you to understand that God has great plans for you and His plan is unique to you as it is to all of His children. This is why God doesn't like comparison. Scripture says, those that compare themselves among themselves are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:12).
Meaning, comparison is foolishness. Comparing yourself with another is insinuating that God cannot be trusted with what He's doing specifically with you. God is the only One that is trustworthy enough to give your entire life and destiny to. Even your own self can't be trusted one hundred percent because it is in the nature of man to make mistakes, intentionally or not.
I therefore solicit you trust Jesus with your life. When you choose your own lane, your own life, your own path, your own destiny without Jesus, you become plastic in His hands (impossible to remould without heat). And if God must do what He wants to do in your life, He'll have to pass you through heat (harsh discipline and chastisement).
Dear brother, dear sister, do not conform yourself to a man's standard of success or right living and allow Jesus do the deciding and forming.
Verse 3 of Jeremiah 18 talks about the potter's WORK ON A WHEEL. The wheel signifies THE WORD OF GOD. As the wheel rotates with the clay on top of it, the potter just have to touch the clay on some places as the clay takes form with the help of the wheel. The potter can't make a smooth pottery without the wheel. So does God uses His Word to shapen our lives to take His desired form.
16] "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works". (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Never loose sight of what God is saying per time; what He's saying about your life, your destiny, and His beautiful will, thoughts and plans for you. That's what matters.
God bless you!
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