The artist places a carefully prepared and kneaded chunk of clay onto his wheel, skillfully centers it, and slowly begins forming it with his wet hands, as the wheel begins turning. The non-descript lump of clay slowly takes shape. The outline of a bowl becomes visible, but faster than the eye can see; one slight irregular move of the potter changes everything. Suddenly, mud flies and in seconds, there is hardly any clay left on the wheel.
Not deterred at all, the potter turns to gather the scattered pieces of clay, adds some water, thoroughly kneads it, and starts the process again. This time, the bowl he had imagined in his mind emerges under his skillful touch. A new, useful, and beautiful work of art has been created.
The Bible compares God’s work to that of an artist who skillfully crafts and forms a masterpiece out of our spiritually dead, sin-wrecked life. Just like the malformed piece of clay was unable to form itself into something beneficial and beautiful, we are unable to change our lost, sinful condition. However, God, the ultimate artist and Creator, took initiative and wants to fashion something new and stunning out of the leftover pieces of our life. His grace, visible in the giving of his perfect son to suffering, death and resurrection, makes this possible.
Like the bowl, we cannot take credit for who we will be formed into; it is all the Artist’s doing. Salvation is not a reward for good things we do—it is a gift that only needs to be accepted by placing our trust in Jesus. Then, formed into something beneficial and useful, we can begin to do the things and serve the purposes that the Master Artist planned for us.
Will you give him permission to re-form you into one of his unique masterpieces? It doesn’t matter how badly you’ve messed up. No one is too bad to be rescued by Him! No one is good enough to not need his rescue!
Yes, you are God’s artwork and by submitting yourself to Him, you will be “some piece of work” that pleases Him and brings joy to his Creator-artist.
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