“7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.”
2 Cor. 4:7
Jars of Clay
Have you ever wondered why there are some things in life you just can’t seem to do, no matter how hard you try? Many people try to take on life all by themselves. No matter how hard things get, they never ask for help. It’s as if asking for help were some kind of sign of weakness to them. But, the truth is we humans have an inherent weakness – sooner or later, we break.
It doesn’t matter how strong you think you are some day you will come up against something too hard to do. At that point, one of two things happen; Either you fall down on your knees and realize that all the struggles of your life have been there so that you would learn to call upon the Lord, the one who made you… or you sink into despair, seeing no hope. I pray the first is what happens to you; it will if you begin to see the answers in Christ now.
No matter how tough we think we are, we’re all made of clay, and jars of clay break. St. Paul told the Corinthians that their struggles, yes even the death of their loved ones, were all there to show the great power of God. He knew that if they kept their faith, no matter what happened, even death, God would see them through. No matter how beat up or knocked down they felt, they were not destroyed, they were not forsaken (vs. 8-9).
It’s Still True Today
This great truth is for each of us today also. No matter what happens in this life, nothing can take away our life in Christ. Even if our jar of clay breaks, God has promised to raise it up again. On the last day, He will again give life to these mortal bodies. But, in the mean time, we always carry around with us the death of Jesus (Vs. 11). Carrying his death in us means that we know nothing can ultimately destroy us, just as nothing Satan and the world tried to do to Jesus could destroy Him.
What are you facing that feels like it’s about to break you? I can’t promise that your jar of clay won’t break, but I can promise you that with faith in Jesus, He will make it all right in the end. Until then, it is enough for us to know that since God is for us, nothing can come against us. Nothing can separate us from His love, not even death (Rom. 8:38-39). For when death comes, as it does to all eventually, we have His promise to raise us from the ashes.
Grace & Peace for a Holy Lent,
Pastor Brad
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6