Remaking Marred Lives

"Have you ever watched a potter at work? Itâs a fascinating experience to see him take a lump of clay and by the use of his hands and the potterâs wheel skillfully transform that lump of clay into a beautiful pitcher. But if for some reason the pitcher doesnât suit him, itâs no trick at all for the potter to change its shape until the pattern is acceptable to him.

The prophet Jeremiah tells of such an experience: "I went down to the potterâs house and behold he wrought of work on the wheels and the vessel he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter. So he made it again, another vessel."

This parable tells us how the Divine Potter remakes the characters and lives of men. As the potter remade the marred vessel so God has a way of remaking lives. Like the marred vessel of the potter are the lives of many people, maybe yours.

Perhaps youâre not the man you once dreamed of being. Maybe earlier in life you felt that God had chosen you to be a vessel unto honor sanctified for the Masterâs use. Once you looked forward to a strong and noble manhood; you anticipated a career of high attainments and useful service, but you have pursued a course that has meant the sacrificing of those ideals of honor and usefulness.

Now the conviction burns itself into your soul; I had my chance and missed it. If this is the case with you the purpose of this scene in the potterâs house is to give you hope. Godâs power of remaking marred lives is available to you. Ask Him to forgive you; put yourself in His hands. Reckon on His grace and power and you can become a vessel of honor sanctified for the Masterâs use.

Let us close with this episode form the book of Jeremiah: "I went down to the potterâs house and behold he wrought a work on the wheels and the vessel he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter and so he made it again, another vessel."