Clay Following Other Clay

I stand amazed that progressive, modern minds think and act as though God doesn’t exist and certainly is not what he claims. The news media churns out repeated stories of man’s inability to rule himself. There are so many countries in dire straits with financial, educational, law enforcement, immigration, environmental, drug, family, and all other possible human problems. See Jeremiah 10:23 about man not being able to direct his own steps.

From the very beginning, God wanted to be man’s king/ruler—a potter in charge of his clay. But men told God that they wanted a human king. They rejected God as their sovereign; and instead, the clay wanted to follow other clay.

I love the Old Testament. I think it is a fuzzy photo album of God’s relationship with the human race and with planet earth. Although studying the New Testament allows us to see Jesus, understanding what went before brings him into much sharper focus.

Take the book of Hebrews for example. Hebrews declares that God is a SPEAKING God, and he has spoken in two ways:
1) In the past, God spoke through the prophets many times and in various ways,
2) but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.

Okay—OT through the prophets; NT through his son. That’s not too hard to get.

It goes on to explain about the son,
1) He was appointed heir of ALL things
2) Through whom he made the universe.
Wow! The son is the heir. As I understand an heir, it is one to whom everything the giver owns is given. That’s some inheritance!

Also, God made the universe through Jesus. That’s a little murky; but remember, “And God SAID, ‘let there be…. . .’” and “In the beginning was the WORD. . .” God created the universe with the WORD.

Verse 3 adds three more details about the Son as,
1) The radiance of God’s glory (the reflection of God’s glory, like a mirror)
2) The exact representation of his being (“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jn. 14:9)
3) Sustains all things by his WORD

It gets a bit murky again: “After he had provided purification for sins.”

A bible dictionary defines purification as, “the process by which an unclean person was restored to the enjoyment of all privileges.” You have to like that.

Repeatedly, an innocent animal’s blood provided limited purification for guilty humans. There were morning and evening sacrifices plus extra ones for extra sins. As a result of all that innocent blood, mankind was made pure enough to have a limited relationship with God. When the Son provided total purification, unclean persons (me and you) were totally restored to the enjoyment of all privileges.

And, when Jesus “finished” the purification on the cross, the innocent blood for the guilty, “he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Why? Because he was finished! What do we do when we get finished? We sit down.

Check YouTube for this song by Petra-slideshow version

♫(It is finished) And the sky grew black as the night
(It is finished) And the people scattered in fright
The work had been done, redemption had been won
The war was over without a fight
It is finished!

The provision has been made
The foundation has been laid
He paid the ransom due
Tore the temple veil in two
And opened up the way for me and you
It is finished! ♫

Have a seat on the potter's wheel.
(unless you buy into the modern, progressive view)